Top Story — July: Sarasota Police lock down SMH, evacuate businesses

Sarasota Police and Sarasota County Emergency Services have cleared the scene around Sarasota Memorial Hospital following a two-hour bomb scare this morning.

"Robots being used by the Sarasota Police Explosive Materials Unit have determined the package is not a threat," said SPD spokeswoman Genevieve Judge in a news release.

Officers are still investigating a bird house, which was attached to plastic jug and had wires and fuses protruding.

"Bomb scare is officially over," said an email sent to Sarasota Memorial employees at 10:24 a.m.

Earlier: Sarasota Police have closed both lanes of U.S. 41 in front of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, as officers investigate a suspicious device found on the sidewalk near its intersection with Arlington Road.

Officers have evacuated all businesses and restaurants in the area and closed the roadway between Waldemere Street and Hillview Street. Sarasota Memorial is not allowing any current patients to the leave the hospital or new patients to enter its buildings, according to an SPD new release.

"The Emergency Care Center is effectively evacuated and we are awaiting the conclusion of ongoing surgeries to compete the evacuation," according to an email sent to Sarasota Memorial employees fro administration. "Once the evacuation has concluded, and the area is secured, Sarasota County Emergency Services will move forward with their operations."

The Sarasota Police Explosive Materials Unit is at the location investigating the device, said SPD spokeswoman Genevieve Judge in the release. And the Sarasota Police Criminal Investigation Division is on the scene working to gather information about where the device came from and the contents of the device.