Several downtown Murfreesboro businesses were evacuated Friday morning as law enforcement investigated a suspicious package on East Main Street.

In a tweet, Murfreesboro Police said the scene was cleared with the help of Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Department.

Michael Sullivan, executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party, provided an image of what appeared to be a radio inside a cardboard box.

“This is just a warning. There will be no others,” a note attached to the box said. “There will be no unconstitutional gun control in this state, or there will be blood.”

Sullivan called the package a fake bomb. He said he was unclear whether it was delivered in the mail or dropped off.

As a precaution, Sullivan said an email was sent out to all the party's county chairs and members of the state executive committee asking them to be aware of any other potential suspicious packages.

"Police K9 was brought in. Everything is safe, scene is clear and employees have returned to work," the MPD's tweet said.

Shortly after 9 a.m. customers were evacuated from surrounding businesses, including City Café, which is next door to the Republican Party office.

"We were sitting here eating and police officers and said everyone has to evacuate," said City Café patron Butler Touchton. "They said there had been a bomb threat in the office next door and we needed to move down the sidewalk."

Cortney Adams, a server at City Café, was also told there was a possible bomb inside the county GOP headquarters, which prompted the evacuation.

“I went to walk outside and asked a female officer and she said, ‘You need to get everyone out of the business right now,’” said Adams.

The server was followed back inside by several officers who assisted in vacating the restaurant.

"Clearly there were some patrons in the restaurant on walkers and needed some help," Touchton said. "Police were very official and prompt and courteous. So they helped everybody get out."

Customers were allowed back into the area after about 45 minutes, Touchton said.