FBI, ATF Called To Casper After ‘Suspicious Package’ Closes Neighborhood

Update 6 p.m.: This story has been updated to reflect the suspicious package has been contained and removed from the neighborhood.

Update 5 p.m.: This story has been updated to reflect the incident is still ongoing and that the FBI and ATF have been called to investigate.

CASPER — A suspicious package that caused law enforcement to block streets and evacuate some homes on the southwest side of town was transported out of the area after a four-hour investigation Monday afternoon.

The Casper Police Department reported that the “suspicious package” was placed into a containment vessel, and streets that were blocked in the Paradise Valley subdivision have been reopened.

“The object has been transported to a safe and secure location where officials will continue to investigate it,” Rebecca Ladd, police department spokesperson, reported. “Involved agencies are continuing to investigate this incident. Further information will be released as it becomes available.”

A little more than an hour earlier, Ladd reported that the department was calling on the FBI and ATF to help investigate the package in addition to the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office and Natrona County Regional Response Team.

For much of Monday afternoon, Paradise Valley homeowners found several streets blocked and some residents near the site of the package on Indian Paintbrush and Aster streets were encouraged to leave the area.

A visit to the area earlier in the afternoon showed that roads were blocked at intersections along Indian Paintbrush at Daffodil streets and Valley Drive south of where Indian Paintbrush intersects with Aster Street.

Other roads closed in the area include Tulip Street, Yarrow Road and Sunflower Street.

Natrona County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kiera Hett said that members of the Natrona County Regional Response Team, which includes sheriff’s office personnel, also responded earlier.

A Banner Health ambulance and a fire truck were parked nearby.

What Is That?

The initial short statement from the Casper Police Department calls the mystery item a “suspicious package,” and someone who lives near there posted a photo of something sitting at the intersection.

It’s unclear by looking at the photo what the package is.

Steve Wyatt, who lives along Indian Paintbrush, said he had a friend who lives closer to Aster Street who had evacuated, although police did not knock on his door.

“He went and took his kids to a movie,” he said. “You usually don’t have this kind of excitement in the neighborhood.”

Another area resident, who did not want to be identified, was walking on the sidewalk south on Indian Paintbrush Street with her elementary-age son.

“As long as I can get my kid out of here, I’m good,” she said.

Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.