UPDATED: APG South Reopened After False Rifle Scare

UPDATE (12:58 p.m.)—Aberdeen Proving Ground South in Edgewood was locked down Wednesday morning as the base's Department of Emergency Services responded to an "emergency situation," according to a spokeswoman.

"We had two employees from Aberdeen Proving Ground who called the Department of Emergency Services this morning to report a person of interest walking in the area holding something they thought might be a rifle," said Adriane Foss, affairs specialist with the APG Garrison. "[The] Department of Emergency Services was called in and dispatched. They searched the area and detained a person of interest and spoke with this person and released this person. No rifle was found."

The man was an environmental contract employee, according to an email from Michael Tuttle, public affairs specialist for Aberdeen Proving Ground. He was surveying the area and carrying a stick, Tuttle said. The man was not charged.

Aberdeen Proving Ground remained operational throughout the incident, Tuttle said.

"The subject was cleared and released. He did match the description that the person the eyewitness saw this morning," Foss said.

She added that the public was never in danger.

"No shots were fired. Again, no rifle was discovered," Foss said. "We did not know that a rifle existed. The subject stated he was carrying a stick."