RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Richmond police and fire crews are investigating a suspicious package at the Port of Richmond.
Lt. Robbie Hagaman said authorities were alerted just after 10 a.m. Friday that a suspicious package or bag had been spotted at a warehouse near the Deepwater Terminal. There are currently no ships docked at that terminal.
The incident had limited impact on the port as traffic was held at the gate as a precaution. Additionally, the Coast Guard halted river traffic between the Chippenham Bridge and Kinder Morgan.
At the Anncarrow boat landing in Richmond, Jason Morgan and his friend were out fishing on the James when Coast Guard officials told them to stay put.
"The patrol came up and just told us we couldn't go any further down the river," said Morgan. "We were kind of concerned and didn't know what was going on.”
In fact, the Coast Guard sent radio transmissions out to mariners saying boats are not allowed in the water from the Port of Richmond down to the Pocahontas Parkway bridge.
Gene Lepley, a Richmond police spokesperson, said the package was eventually deemed safe. However, would not describe the package or how it got there.
"That's part of the investigation...is to figure out why this package came to be in this location,” said Lepley. “Who left it behind? Was it done on purpose or by accident?"
Lepley said Richmond police have turned over this investigation to the ATF and Richmond’s Fire Marshal.
There has been no word yet on when they will wrap up their investigation.
