UPDATE 5:45 p.m. Monday:
Merchants Square has reopened to the public following an investigation into a building where Stephen Powers did work with Colonial Williamsburg, according to a City of Williamsburg tweet.
Police and fire crews have given the “all clear” after checking the area thoroughly for safety, the tweet said.
Original story:
Since an improvised explosive device detonated in Colonial Williamsburg Thursday night, Williamsburg has been on high alert for other possible explosive devices left behind.
Colonial Williamsburg employee Stephen Powers, 30, was arrested Friday in connection with an explosion in the parking lot behind Berrett’s Seafood, but Williamsburg residents and business owners are still concerned he or others may have planted other explosive devices.
On Monday, police were called to a store in the 400 block of Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg after a building resident said Powers did work on the building, according to a Williamsburg Police Facebook post.
“The residents of the building are concerned he may have left behind a device,” Williamsburg Police posted on Facebook at 4:20 p.m. “The building is being checked for the safety of the occupants and the public.”
A City of Williamsburg news release stated police and fire crews were investigating a heat sensor alarm in the HVAC system.
Merchants Square was closed until further notice while authorities investigated the scene.
On Friday, the day after the IED went off, police also received reports of a possible explosive device made out of three propane tanks in a vehicle near Matthew Whaley Elementary School. The school was on lockdown for about an hour until the vehicle was deemed safe.
Powers was arrested Friday and charged with terrorism and possession of an explosive device.
Related Coverage:
- Bankruptcy filings for IED suspect show unpaid medical bills, crippling debt
- Man charged in IED explosion was Colonial Williamsburg employee, documents say
- Investigators classify IED explosion near CW as criminal
- Police: Improvised explosive device detonated near Colonial Williamsburg
- Police investigate possible explosive device near Colonial Williamsburg
