Suspicious backpack found outside of Howard Hall [Updated-1]

Photo by Laura Hoeft

Photo by Laura Hoeft

Photo by Laura Hoeft

A bomb squad member in full body armor investigates the suspicious package. Photo: Tyler O'Neil

A squad member describes the contents of the suspicious backpack. The backpack contained a toy cap gun still in its packaging, a plastic dinosaur and a box of Twinkies. Photo: Tyler O'Neil

8:48 P.M. Recent Developments:

Staff and students remained inside Howard Hall while the Des Moines Police Bomb Squad responded to a suspicious backpack left unattended on the academic building’s steps at Drake University Tuesday morning.

Major Leonard Murray, commander of the Des Moines Bureau of Homeland Security, said each situation is different and it is up to the discretion of the officers on the scene to determine if an evacuation is necessary.

“If it was determined that (the backpack) was a threat we would have handled it differently,” Murray said. “Everything is situation dependent.”

The perception of the students inside was a little different. Katie Stephenson (AS4) is a tutor for the Writing Workshop, which is hosted on the second floor of Howard Hall.

“I took the stairwell next to the front doorway where the backpack was,” Stephenson said “I saw the man in the ‘moon suit’ outside and I realized my flesh was exposed.”

The backpack was originally discovered on the south steps of Howard Hall, located on the east side of Drake’s campus, around 8 a.m. by a university staff member. At 8:02 a.m. Campus Security was notified and an officer was dispatched to Howard.

Director of Campus Security Hans Hanson said the officer discovered a note that “looked a little weird” on the backpack. The officer requested a Des Moines Police Officer examine the backpack as well.

Police reports indicate DMPD was called at 8:26 a.m. An officer on patrol near campus arrived shortly thereafter. He also found the backpack and note to be suspicious and requested a bomb technician.

“We thought only one technician would show up, but then the whole squad showed up,” Hanson said.

Hanson said DMPD officers took control of the situation and asked Campus Security officers to redirect students around or away from the building. Bomb squad technicians x-rayed the backpack in place, and Hanson said the package was void of explosives but there was a clear image of a handgun inside the bag.

Bomb squad members, having determined the bag was not an immediate threat to the building or its occupants, decided against an evacuation. Hanson said the squad attached a rope to the bag to pull it away from the building.

A squad member in full body armor approached the backpack, cut it open and removed its contents.

“There was a gun, but it wasn’t what we were expecting,” Hanson said.

The backpack contained a toy pistol still in its packaging, a plastic dinosaur and a box of Twinkies.

After gathering evidence, the bomb squad left campus by 10:30 a.m.

Once the backpack was accessed, Campus Security Officers searched campus buildings for other suspicious backpacks or packages but found none.

The note found on the backpack included a cell phone number. University officials were able to find the student responsible for leaving the backpack and Hanson said disciplinary action is being coordinated through the dean of students. Hanson indicated that the toy pistol may be considered a violation of Drake’s no weapons policy.

Hanson was reluctant to disclose the motives of the student, but he said the student essentially wanted to start a treasure hunt. The student meant for the backpack to be picked up, for someone to find the random items and use the cell phone number to find the next clue.

“It was not meant to threaten or produce fear,” Hanson said. “But in this day and age you have to be cautious.”

Hanson said there would be no fees associated with the bomb squad visit and he does not expect DMPD will level charges against the student responsible for depositing the backpack.

Interim Director of Residence Life Lorissa Lieurance was seen entering the Drake Security Office at 10:17 a.m. while accompanying a student. Both were then directed to a conference room within the office along with security officers and what appeared to be two plains-clothes police officers.

It is unclear if Lieurance or the student were related to the incident. Lieurance declined to comment.

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11:45 A.M. – First Report:

The Des Moines Police Bomb Squad responded to a suspicious backpack left unattended on the steps of an academic building at Drake University Tuesday morning.

The backpack was originally placed on the south steps of Howard Hall, located on the east side of Drake’s campus. It is unknown if there was a note or phone call alerting police, and it is unknown if there was a specific target or motive.

According to a press release by Lisa Lacher, director of media relations and public relations, “While Campus Security officers kept people away from the backpack, members of the bomb squad took an x-ray of it. The x-ray showed what appeared to be a handgun.”

Squad members were able to move the backpack away from the building and cut open the backpack.

Inside contained a toy cap pistol still in its packaging, a plastic dinosaur and an indistinguishable blue cardboard box. After an investigation by a fully armored squad member, it was determined the package was non-threatening.

Students were not evacuated from the building but were directed away from the south-side stairwell.

Police officers on the scene declined to comment on the situation. Drake Security officers on the scene and at the Drake Security Office also declined to comment.

Interim Director of Residence Life Lorissa Lieurance was seen entering the Drake Security Office at 10:17 a.m. while accompanying a student. Both were then directed to a conference room within the office along with security officers and what appeared to be two plains-clothes police officers. It is unclear if Lieurance or the student were related to the incident.

Dale Kellar, a Des Moines contractor working on the Harmon Fine Arts Center, said two police cars were present when he left campus for a short time at 8:30 a.m.

When he returned at 9 a.m. two DMPD cruisers, a Drake Security car, an unmarked DMPD vehicle, an ambulance and the DMPD Bomb Squad response vehicle were parked on the street near Howard Hall.

“I came over and asked if it was safe because when you see a truck like that you tend to get worried,” Kellar said.

The Times-Delphic will update its Web site with more details regarding this story as they come in.

A bomb squad member explains the situation to a DMPD officer while another squad member (left) collects evidence related to the suspicious package. Photo Tyler O'Neil

The Des Moines Police Bomb Squad response vehicle sits parked on Carpenter Ave. directly east of Drake's campus. Police responded to a suspicious package near Howard Hall shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday morning. Photo: Tyler O'Neil