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Suspicious briefcase prompts police response near Falls hotel

Posted at 3:02 AM, Aug 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-14 08:02:00-04

Niagara Falls police are investigating a suspicious briefcase, found in a city owned parking lot, near the Sheraton Hotel on Third Street.

Police have not said how they were alerted to the briefcase.

Our breaking news photographer reports seeing a heavy police presence in the area.

Video from "The Action Niagara Falls" shows the parking lot is taped off, with police surrounding the area.

Rob Bennett snapped a picture, showing police working the scene.

An Erie County Sheriff's K-9 unit was also at the scene.

Police say the bomb squad was called in as a precaution.

The response came just before 2:00 a.m. Monday.

A supervisor at the Sheraton says hotel operations are not being affected by the police response.  She said restaurant employees, leaving for the night, are being told to avoid the area.

Police told our photographer they did not find anything in the briefcase.  It has not been claimed.

The briefcase was taken into evidence and the area was cleared just after 3:30 a.m. Monday.