Fairfax County police have determined there’s no threat posed by a “suspicious device” that was reportedly seen near the Innovation Center Metro station in the Herndon area.
Officers were dispatched to the area around 10:34 a.m. after a caller reported “a strange package that looks like a pressure cooker” near Sunrise Valley Drive, according to scanner traffic on Open MHz.
A subsequent call suggested the device was taped to the curb, a dispatcher said at 10:51 a.m. An officer confirmed at 11:04 a.m. that “the item is located on Innovation Drive.”
“I have [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] resources responding over there. Just have everybody stay away from the package,” an officer said at 11:08 a.m.
Residents at the nearby Brightview Senior Living (13700 Magna Way) have been directed to shelter in place, per the police scanner.
Innovation Center Drive was shut down in both directions at Sunrise Valley Drive in McNair while officers investigated the “suspicious device,” the Fairfax County Police Department said in a 12:24 p.m. tweet, advising drivers to “use an alternate route.”
In a 1:25 p.m. update, the FCPD announced that the device “is inert and there is no threat to the community.” The device turned out to be “a small household appliance,” a department spokesperson told FFXnow.
“We went to check out of an abundance of caution,” the FCPD said. “Officers have since cleared the scene and determined the item to be inert.”
Innovation Center Drive has now fully reopened to traffic.
Our EOD officers determined that the device is inert and there is no threat to the community. Innovation Center Drive is now open in both directions. Thank you for your patience. #FCPD
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) August 21, 2024
