A suspicious vehicle forced the Capitol Police headquarters and The Monocle restaurant to be evacuated Tuesday but the police cleared the scene just over two hours later.
The truck approached a barricade next to the headquarters at 119 D Street Northeast at around 12:16 p.m., which a department spokesperson said didn’t follow protocols. A police dog alerted officers to the vehicle.
An officer noticed a suitcase on top of plastic wrap in the truck bed and the truck was flagged as suspicious. Officers X-rayed the suitcase and other suitcases in the truck and found no hazardous materials. The driver of the vehicle was interviewed and released, the spokesperson said.
The evacuation notice went out at approximately 12:39 p.m. and the all-clear was given at 2:42 p.m. Employees funneled back into the department’s headquarters and roads were reopened.
Officers had also closed off several intersections. Members of the Containment Emergency Response Team (SWAT) and the Hazardous Material Response Team were at the scene.
The incident resulted in the closure of lots 16, 18 and 19, D Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Louisiana Avenue Northeast, Second Street between Massachusetts Avenue and C Street Northeast, First Street between Columbus Circle and C Street Northeast, Delaware Avenue between Columbus Circle and C Street Northeast, and eastbound traffic on Massachusetts Avenue between North Capitol and Third streets Northeast.
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