Package at post office prompts evacuation

A package that was left outside of a post office Tuesday afternoon prompted traffic to be detoured along two blocks of East Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. Businesses were also evacuated.

The affected stretch of Las Olas Boulevard in the heart of Fort Lauderderdale was between Southeast 13th Avenue and Southeast 15th Avenue.

The disruption to the neighborhood began about 1:15 p.m. and lasted about an hour. Police did not find anything of danger to the public.

During the incident, television news reports showed a bomb squad officer wearing olive green protective gear as he dismantled a brief case and pulled papers from inside. Later, a detective was seen photographing the evidence.

As traffic was halted along the boulevard, people inside businesses were being told to evacuate “as a precaution,” Fort Lauderdale Police spokeswoman Casey Liening said.

The post office is at 1404 E. Las Olas Blvd. and the briefcase was on the sidewalk in front.

Patrons at The Floridian Restaurant were being escorted outdoors, said manager Lindsey Gilbert.

“Customers are being sent outside to the back of the restaurant because there is caution tape out front,” Gilbert said.

By 2:20 p.m., Liening said the boulevard was open to traffic again.

“Nothing suspicious found,” she said. was