Empty Suitcase Empties Plu

A gray suitcase tucked between a gas main and a building wall at Pacific Lutheran University created a bomb scare Thursday, forcing the evacuation of about 100 people and the closure of nearby streets.

The Fort Lewis bomb squad was called to the scene, where personnel determined the suitcase was empty, said Curt Benson, a spokesman for the Pierce County sheriff’s office.

The suitcase, about 18 inches by 30 inches with green duct tape on it, was stuck between a gas main and an exterior wall at the University Center, Benson said.

The scare disrupted activity at the campus and forced traffic to be rerouted for about three hours, he said.