Update: Suspicious Briefcase Not a Danger

Update at 5:14 p.m: A law enforcement source says the suspicious briefcase – upon X-ray examinations – appears empty and is harmless. 

An x-ray determined a suspicious brown briefcase left on the sidewalk next to Capital One Bank was empty and not a danger to the public, according to authorities.

Police and fire officials closed East Ridgewood Avenue just before 4 p.m. between Broad Street and Chestnut Street on report from a bank employee that the suitcase was left unattended, police captain Jacqueline Luthcke said.

Residents in the apartments were evacuated and shop workers told to stay clear of windows.

The county bomb squad took x-rays of the briefcase and found the case was empty, a detective said. The road was reopened at around 5:15 p.m.

A similar incident occurred in summer of 2011. The . Trains and buses are still running.

Detectives will be investigating why the briefcase was left unattended.

Stay tuned for updates on this breaking news story.