A section of 30 Avenue in Vernon was cordoned off about 7 a.m. Monday morning as Vernon RCMP responded to a suspicious package left outside of the Nixon Wenger Building.

Photo: Amy Jackson-Shelling - Castanet

Police closed off 30 Avenue from 27 Street to 26 Street. Nobody was allowed to go into work.

"Police are currently on the scene. The 2706-30 Ave had a report of a suspicious black suitcase and a water bottle that was in the front of the building when the employees reported for work at the coffee shop there," said Vernon RCMP Gord Molendyk.

"Our officers were called. The explosive trained dog from Kelowna was called up to assist. The road was closed. It was precautionary as you can appreciate."

The suitcase did not contain any explosive device, however, the contents of the suitcase are not being divulged at this point.

"We didn’t want to take any chances because it was left there prior to. It wasn’t like they had opened for business and they were inside and someone may have left it there while they were inside, It was left in front before they (employees) arrived for work. Because of the type of building it is we didn’t want to take any chances," said Molendyk.

The area was re-opened to traffic and employees in the affected businesses were allowed to go to work at about 10 a.m.

Vernon RCMP are conducting an investigation into this matter.