Police investigated a suspicious package just after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19 in Lincoln Park.
The park and surrounding sidewalks were closed to the public for a little more than twenty minutes, with National Guard setting a perimeter. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and DC Fire EMS Rescue Squad 4 assisted US Park Poice in the investigation.
“Lincoln Park was temporarily closed while law enforcement investigated a report of a suspicious object,” said Sergeant Roselyn Norment, a Public Information Officer with the United States Park Police. “The object was determined to be non-threatening and the park is reopened.”
Bystanders reported the object was found under a tree at the west end of the National Park. Nearby Wine & Butter (1023 East Capitol) was asked to close, although no buildings were evacuated. The park reopened at 2:08 p.m. after getting the all-clear.
National Guard will be present in the park, said a National Parks Service (NPS) spokesperson, but the public should not be alarmed. “Law enforcement partners are supplementing and supporting US Park Police in national parks in and around the DC area,” said NPS Public Affairs Specialist Katie Liming.
Portable toilets have been set up in the park, and in addition to patrol, guard are using the park as a staging area.
