Cops: 'Suspicious package' was nothing

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin police officers shut down one of the busiest downtown intersections for about an hour early Thursday morning but avoided major traffic trouble after a bomb squad investigation fizzled out.

The Austin Police Department bomb squad responded to the Whole Foods Market at Sixth Street and Lamar Boulevard around 5:30 a.m. They were investigating reports of a suspicious package inside a car in the store's parking lot, which turned out to be nothing.

Police officials said authorities arrested a man at Whole Foods for shoplifting Wednesday night and that he had left his car running. Since the man was in custody, he obviously hadn't gotten the chance to turn off his vehicle.

Officials said a passerby called police after noticing the suspect's car running and a suspicious package inside, though police said the package was nothing suspicious in nature.

During the morning investigation, officers closed off the busy intersection while investigators dealt with the package. Lamar Boulevard was blocked off from Fifth to Seventh streets.

Cars and joggers were diverted from the area, though it did not appear that the store was evacuated during the threat.

After about an hour, police packed up and cleared the scene.