Investigation continues in bomb case

COEUR d'ALENE - Investigators will have to examine the remains from the detonated bomb discovered near the Kootenai County Fairgrounds on Friday before the investigation can advance, Coeur d'Alene police said.

Meanwhile, a second suitcase suspected of being a bomb was discovered in Spokane on Monday but was found to contain an old camcorder, the Spokane County Bomb Squad said.

The two cases likely aren't connected, authorities said.

"Nothing we saw would indicate they were connected in any way," said Lt. Matt Lyons, on the bomb squad. "We don't discount that possibility, but there's nothing to indicate that right now."

Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Christie Wood said leads have not come in since Friday's discovery that forced officers to seal off streets and ask residents in the area to leave their homes.

A citizen walking on the sidewalk about 4:30 p.m. near Second Street and Kathleen Avenue spotted a suspicious suitcase in a grassy swale and called police.

The suitcase had writing on it that said, "Warning. Do not touch. Boom." The Spokane bomb squad determined there was an explosive device inside and detonated it around 10:15 p.m.

The streets near the fairgrounds remained closed for another hour after that. No one was injured nor was property damaged.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 667-2111 or toll free at (866) 667-2111.