At approximately 2:00 pm, August 29, 2017, members of the Thunder Bay Police Service responded to a report of a suspicious package which located on the sidewalk beside the Thunder Bay Police Service Substation, 18 N Court Street. The suspicious package was a green metal ammunition box which appeared to be secured with a heavy duty padlock.

Out of an abundance of caution and due to the dangerous nature of the ammunition box and what it could potentially contain, the decision was made to cordon off the immediate area and evacuate six nearby businesses. This was completed with the cooperation and assistance of all persons who were either attending or operating these businesses. Further due to the nature of the ammunition box, the assistance of the OPP Bomb Unit based out of Kenora was requested.

As well, the Thunder Bay Police Service put out an initial media release advising members of the public of this investigation and to avoid the area. This also involved extensive social media coverage. As a result of this coverage, the person responsible for placing the ammunition box outside of the police substation contacted the TBPS. Further, another person contacted the TBPS to report the loss of their medication which happened to be contained in an ammunition box fitting the description of that placed in front of the police substation. Both persons were interviewed by detectives attached to the Criminal Investigation Unit.

Based on the totality of the information, members of the TBPS removed and opened the ammunition box and confirmed the contents as medication. The box and contents were returned to their rightful owner. There are no charges contemplated in this investigation as no offence was committed.

The Thunder Bay Police Service would like to thank the local business owners involved for their cooperation in this matter. As well, the TBPS would like to thank the OPP for their response. Finally, the TBPS would like to thank the media for their coverage and the persons involved for contacting police as this would have resulted in a much more lengthy investigation requiring the area to be cordoned off for a much more lengthy amount of time. The area was released at 7:30 pm.

The TBPS would like to remind persons who discover property that could be deemed suspicious in nature to turn it over personally to a police officer or contact police who will attend and investigate.