The Ann Arbor Police Department, with help from the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security, cleared the scene on State Street on Central Campus in between North University Avenue and East William Street Tuesday evening after investigating a suspicious small, black cylinder lying in the street.
Authorities were alerted around 7 p.m., and a bomb squad from the state police arrived to clear the object at 9 p.m. Upon investigation, the bomb squad officer reported the object to be a counterweight, according to AAPD officer Chris Wooley.
“It’s a harmless thing like you would see at the Art Fair or at the festivals,” he said.
UMPD Sgt. Robert Soichet said this was the first bomb threat he could remember in the downtown area.
“(The University) didn’t send out an emergency alert because I thought it would cause more people to come out and see,” he said.
Officers roped off the area for around two hours, and dozens of people gathered to watch. Detroit resident Anton Perry said he and his friends wanted to see the bomb squad in action.
“We wanted to see if some smoke was going to start coming out,” he said. “It felt like a movie out here.”
This is a developing story. Check back with The Michigan Daily for updates.