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Topsham Police Chief Christopher Lewis, right, and Detective Mark LaFountain block traffic from Midway Drive at the intersection with Topsham Fair Mall Wednesday morning while state police investigate a suspicious package found in a wooded area off Midway Drive. DARCIE MOORE/THE TIMES RECORD
Topsham Police Chief Christopher Lewis, right, and Detective Mark LaFountain block traffic from Midway Drive at the intersection with Topsham Fair Mall Wednesday morning while state police investigate a suspicious package found in a wooded area off Midway Drive. DARCIE MOORE/THE TIMES RECORD
TOPSHAM

Members of the state fire marshal's office finish collecting evidence at the end of Midway Drive in the Topsham Fair Mall late Wednesday morning after the state's bomb and explosives unit blew up a suspicious gym bag found there. DARCIE MOORE/THE TIMES RECORD
Members of the state fire marshal’s office finish collecting evidence at the end of Midway Drive in the Topsham Fair Mall late Wednesday morning after the state’s bomb and explosives unit blew up a suspicious gym bag found there. DARCIE MOORE/THE TIMES RECORD
Midway Drive by Home Depot was closed in the Topsham Fair Mall for about three hours while state police investigated and then blew up a suspicious bag found in nearby wooded area Wednesday morning.

A suspicious bag, some sort of gym bag found with wires inside making an electronic, ticking type noise, was blown up by the state's bomb and explosives unit on Midway Drive in the Topsham Fair Mall Wednesday morning, leaving by some debris that included cameras, cell phones and wires. DARCIE MOORE/THE TIMES RECORD
A suspicious bag, some sort of gym bag found with wires inside making an electronic, ticking type noise, was blown up by the state’s bomb and explosives unit on Midway Drive in the Topsham Fair Mall Wednesday morning, leaving by some debris that included cameras, cell phones and wires. DARCIE MOORE/THE TIMES RECORD
Topsham Police Chief Christopher Lewis said police got the call about a suspicious bag just before 8:30 a.m. He said the landscaper who found it has military experience and was concerned enough to call police, who in turn alerted the state police. Their bomb and explosives unit responded as well as the state fire marshal’s office. 

The state police bomb and explosive unit had issues with its remote control robot, which had to be towed from the scene. DARCIE MOORE/THE TIMES RECORD
The state police bomb and explosive unit had issues with its remote control robot, which had to be towed from the scene. DARCIE MOORE/THE TIMES RECORD
Topsham police and fire department personnel worked to close off access points to Midway Drive and eventually at around 10:30 a.m., Home Depot closed for a short time. 

Lewis said police were worried about a potential improvised explosive device near a highly traveled intersection. He said the suspicious package appeared to be a gym bag. 

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There was a mass of wires inside but a portable x-ray was unable to determine what they were. The electronic, or “ticking” noise the bag was emitting concerned police. 

The state police bomb squad responded and was having issues with its robot at the scene, which was eventually loaded onto a tow truck. Bomb technicians ended up detonating the bag just before 11 a.m. using their own charge to render it “neutral.”

After detonating the bag, Home Depot reopened and Midway Drive shortly after. State police finished collecting evidence and cleared the scene soon after.

Lewis said an out of state drivers license was found in the debris and that state police were working to contact the owner.

A couple cameras, cell phones, wires and other items were left behind after the explosion.

Fortunately, Lewis said, there were no actual explosives in the bag. He wasn’t aware of what was causing the electronic noise police heard.


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