A backpack left at a North Little Rock revenue office spurred a precautionary evacuation of it and surrounding businesses Wednesday, but an investigation confirmed that the bag posed no risk, officials said.
North Little Rock Police Department Sgt. Brian Dedrick said police were called before 11 a.m. to the Arkansas Revenue office in the Indian Hills Shopping Center, located at 6929 JFK Blvd., in reference to the suspicious package. Dedrick said the backpack's owner was involved in some sort of verbal altercation in the office before he left without his bag.
Police evacuated the office and about five other businesses near it in the shopping center. Members of the Little Rock Fire Department bomb squad entered the office around noon.
Capt. Jason Weaver, a fire department spokesman and a member of the bomb squad, said X-rays revealed the bag contained only personal items including a flashlight, clothes and books.
Weaver said the man made some sort of "anti-government" remarks before leaving without the bag, which heightened employees' concern.
"He wasn't happy with the services he was receiving," Weaver said.
Dedrick said officers located the bag's owner shortly after responding.
"He made a statement that he left it there on accident," Dedrick said. The man was not expected to face any charges.
Indian Hills Elementary School was locked down initially because of the incident, but that precaution was lifted a short time later, Dedrick said.