Suspicious Suitcase Held Fantasy Figurines

A suspicious suitcase that briefly shut down a portion of State Street on Saturday morning held nothing more dangerous than the plastic weapons wielded by fantasy figurines, police said Monday.

The red 18-by-18-inch hard-sided piece of luggage was discovered in a trash can near the Thames Club at about 11 a.m. on Saturday morning. A threatening message had been scratched into the surface of the case with a ballpoint pen or a sharp-pointed tool.

Deputy Chief Marshall Segar of the said the message is not being made public since police are still investigating the matter. He said it "was threatening in a manner designed to ward off anyone who touched or tampered with the case."

The Connecticut State Police Emergency Services Unit was called to respond to the incident, and police closed the road from Huntington Street to Washington Street. Precautions were also taken to move residents on the first four floors of the away from the State Street side. The road was reopened after about two hours when it was determined that the case posed no threat.

Segar said that the suitcase contained 24 one-inch high fantasy warfare figurines. Such figures are designed for use in tabletop or board games.

Segar said police are investigating evidence related to the matter, including security camera footage from nearby buildings. Anyone with information on the matter is asked to call the detective division at 860-447-1481.