BEATTY — A popular tourist stop on U.S. Highway 95 between Pahrump and Tonopah was evacuated Monday after the discovery of a suspicious package.
The area around Eddie World Gasoline in Beatty was cleared out Monday morning after a reporting of a lone suitcase next to an electric car charging station, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office.
The area around Stagecoach Hotel and Casino, Eddie World, Death Valley Nut and Candy, and Motel 6 was cordoned off, their parking lots emptied as much as possible.
Upon arrival, sheriff’s deputies, Nevada Highway Patrol troopers and members of the Beatty Volunteer Fire Department secured and evacuated the scene.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department bomb squad was called to the scene, along with members of the FBI, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Las Vegas Fire and Rescue.
The bomb squad deployed a robot at about 4 p.m. to investigate the object, then sent in a bomb-sniffing dog and three bomb squad members. The dog did not react, and one of the bomb squad members opened and searched the suitcase.
The all-clear was given to end the closure of the area at around 4:30 p.m. after the suitcase was opened and found to contain an unnamed individual’s personal belongings.
The sheriff’s office took possession of the suitcase and is attempting to identify the owner.
The sheriff’s office stressed that there was no explosion or injuries as a result of the situation.
“In light of the happenings in the country precautions were taken to ensure the residents of Beatty were safe,” the sheriff’s office said in a released statement.
Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.
Freelance reporter Richard Stephens contributed to this report.