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Jan-11-2011 22:01printcommentsVideo

Bomb Scare in Macy's Parking Garage Evacuates Area in Downtown Salem

Suspicious Device causes alarm; downtown department store; other areas near Marion & High evacuated during bomb squad response.

Salem, Oregon bomb scare
Video and photo by Jerry Freeman Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Salem Police Bomb Squad responded to a report of a suspicious device on the first floor of the Macy's department store parking structure. Salem Police Lt. Jim Anglemier says officers rolled onto the scene at approximately 4:55 p.m.

"Officers responded to a report of a suspicious package located on the first floor parking structure of 'Macy's', 400 High St. NE. Responding officers found a duffel bag with an antenna sticking out of, which had been reported by a store employee."

What made this call unusual was the description of the device; Lt. Jim Anglemier told Salem-News.com. The suspect went to some effort to make the suspected bomb look real.

"The suspicious package had been made to look like an actual explosive device by an unknown person's."

Anglemier says a follow up investigation is underway by the bomb team.

He says they didn't detonate it or disassemble the device; explaining that the bomb squad has different techniques; that are based on location and other circumstances. A blast was heard in downtown Salem.

Anglemier could not specify the exact occurrence that caused it, saying it was something the bomb team deemed necessary to render the situation safe.

"As a safety precaution, 'Macy's' was evacuated at 5:20 p.m., and the parking structured closed off. At 6:50 p.m., Center Street NE, between High Street and Church Street NE was closed as the Bomb Squad dealt with the suspicious package. By 7:20 p.m., the Bomb Squad determined the suspicious package was not real and declared the area safe."

At 7:25 p.m. Lt. Anglemier said, employee's and customers were being allowed back into 'Macy's', and Center Street NE was re-opened for normal traffic flow.

Anyone with information of who may be involved in placing the suspicious package are asked to call Salem Police Dispatch at 503-588-6123.




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Anonymous 2 February 9, 2011 7:47 pm (Pacific time)

I heard about the area being shut down earlier...before/around 3:30. When was it acutally discovered?


-- January 29, 2011 1:10 am (Pacific time)

yes as a macys employee who was in the building while all of this was going on was forced to stay, just incase the suspected bomb was fake and we had that slight chance that we may reopen our doors for the last hour and half left.


Anonymous January 14, 2011 6:12 pm (Pacific time)

Macy's was not completely evacuated. Employees were not allowed to leave the building during the entire ordeal, except for employees whose shift ended during the ordeal, but employees schedule until 9:00 PM were forced to remain in the store during the investigation and subsequent destruction of the device. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hg1fqgyBMdkandfeature=player_embedded is video evidence showing employees in the store during the entire ordeal. Please update your article to represent the facts.

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