Authorities Shut Down Airy Street to Investigate 'Suspicious Package'

Norristown Police and Fire departments and emergency medical services responded to Airy and Church streets in Norristown shortly before noon on Wednesday, Oct. 17, for a report of a suspicious package found in front of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee (MCDC) office at 21 East Airy Street across from the Montgomery County Courthouse.

Airy Street was closed to traffic while the package was secured and determined to be an empty backpack, possibly left by a homeless person.

"It was a backpack someone just placed there," said Norristown Police Chief Russell Bono. "Possibly one of the homeless people going to St. John's in the morning to get fed. it was empty."

The building was evacuated while the package was secured and while some Facebook users commenting on the news surmised it might have been a politically-motivated scare tactic, workers at the MCDC office were unfazed by the incident. They told Patch they haven't had any incidents of politically-motivated pranks or threats at their office.

"People get excited during elections," one worker quipped.

The street was reopened shortly before 12:30 p.m.