The Kelowna courthouse, along with many other buildings on Water Street, was evacuated Thursday morning after a suspicious package was found on the courthouse premises.
RCMP said it is not a threat, though police wouldn’t say what the package was.
A woman told Global News she found a crack pipe and what looked like a grenade while cutting the grass at the courthouse. However, she said a police officer later told her it was a hand-grenade shaped lighter.
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Virtually all buildings along Water Street between Cawston Avenue and Doyle Avenue were evacuated for about an hour.
“The courthouse and businesses in close proximity were evacuated as the safety of the public is paramount. The RCMP needed the area clear to conduct their investigation,” said Cpl. Tania Carroll in a media release.
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That included businesses, the Kelowna Art Gallery and rooms in the Delta Grand Hotel facing Water Street.
The street itself was also closed but had since reopened as of 11 a.m. PT.
“At approximately 10:15 a.m., investigators with the help of the Kelowna RCMP Police Dog Services section, deemed the area safe, the item has been removed from the area and the displaced public have been allowed to return,” said Carroll.
The ongoing Bacon murder trial is taking place at the Kelowna courthouse.
The police incident also comes as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Kelowna, taking part in Liberal Party caucus meetings at the Delta Grand Hotel, across the street from the courthouse.
However, the Liberal caucus space does not face Water Street and the politicians were not evacuated.
– with files from Lauren Pullen