PRESS RELEASE

Date
01/02/2018
and Nature: Suspicious Activity
3:32 pm
Time:
Location: Market Square Mall, Depot Street

Narrative Potsdam Village Police responded to a suspicious package reported to be outside

the Market Square Mall. The package was initially assessed to be a propane tank
contained in a locked duffle bag, which was chained to a metal guard rail,
contained in a suitcase, positioned underneath the metered natural gas intake
lines feeding the building complex. Due to the presentation of the package and
its proximity to the utility infrastructure for the building it was treated as a
potential improvised explosive device.

Potsdam Village Police activated a mutual aid response from surrounding

agencies and immediately established a cordon around the Market Square Mall
and began evacuating the people inside the businesses therein. Potsdam Village
Police were assisted by personnel from SUNY Potsdam University Police,
Potsdam Fire, Potsdam Rescue, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department,
the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation, and St. Lawrence Gas.

During the course of the response it was determined that a locally known
resident had been seen previously transporting propane tanks in old suitcases as
he brought them back and forth into the village to have them refilled. That
individual was located and it was determined that the contents of the suitcase
and duffle bag were only his propane tank, which he had secured to the rail
while in the village this afternoon. He was transported to the scene where he
unlocked the tank and bag from the rail and removed it.