Suspicious packages at VA Clinic determined to be no danger

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THIS STORY HAS BEEN UDPATED WITH ADDITIONAL DETAILS FROM THE CLEARLAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Concerns about two suspicious packages led to an investigation at the Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic in Clearlake Thursday, with officials determining that the packages were harmless.

The clinic, located at 15145 Lakeshore Drive, was closed at noon on Thursday in response to the concerns, according to Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen.

The clinic was surrounded with crime scene tape, the building was evacuated and the area cleared, and the road was closed while the investigation took place Thursday afternoon, according to witnesses.

Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen said the clinic received the packages through the mail and clinic staff deemed them suspicious because one was making noise.

Clearlake Police, Lake County Fire Protection District and a federal law enforcement official – who was called to the scene due to the clinic being a federal building – responded to investigate, according to Clausen.

It eventually was determined that one of the packages contained a piece of equipment with low batteries and that it as not a danger, Clausen said.

Clausen said the “all clear” was given at around 3:20 p.m.

John Jensen contributed to this report.

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