Suspicious Laptop at HoCo Recycling Facility Under Investigation: Police

A suspicious laptop prompted the evacuation of a recycling facility on US 1 Thursday, according to the Howard County Police Department.

At 12:24 p.m., first responders reported they were in the 7500 block of Washington Boulevard at a recycling facility that processes military supplies, where staff reported there was a suspicious package.

Police, fire, bomb squad and hazmat teams converged at Sims Recycling Solutions in Elkridge, where personnel filed the report at 9:37 a.m., according to WJZ.

As a precaution, the building was evacuated, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal conducted an analysis of the questionable material, police reported.

The item was a “laptop that appeared to have been altered in a suspicious manner,” according to police.

By 1:40 p.m., the item was determined to be safe, and investigators were still working to figure out whether it was a “legitimate threat, some type of prop or a hoax,” police said.

Police reported a K-9 scanned the building and there was no indication of an incendiary device.

Screenshot from WJZ.