Misplaced medical device leads to evacuations at Bertucci’s, other businesses
A State Police bomb squad was called to a Beverly Bertucci’s on Monday night after a “suspicious device” was discovered, according to authorities.
The incident happened just after 4:30 p.m., when an employee reported finding the item, said Beverly police.
Officials evacuated the restaurant, as well as the Starbucks, Eastern Bank, Pinkberry, Garden City Pub, and Depot Liquors located nearby.
The bomb squad determined the device was not a hazard, according to Beverly police. Police say once the “hoax device” was removed, the surrounding businesses were allowed to reopen. Bertucci’s, however, remained closed for the evening.
“We believe it was not an intentional hoax,” State Police spokesman Dave Procopio told Boston.com.
“The device turned out to be a homemade medical device used for electrical stimulation by a Parkinson’s patient to help with joint pain,” State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey’s office said in a statement on Tuesday. “It was not a hoax device.”
The patient called the restaurant Monday night looking for the item, and investigators were able to corroborate his explanation with his physician.
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