Suspicious backpack contained energy drink, chips

<span>SPARTA -- Several Randolph County agencies and two bomb squad units responded on Wednesday to the report of a suspicious package in the 1800 block of North Market Street in Sparta.</span>

<span>According to Sparta Police Chief Sean Lukes, an unknown person called the dispatch office shortly after 11 a.m. regarding a backpack, that looked suspicious to the caller, sitting in the parking lot.</span>

<span>The black and blue backpack was located in Northtown Center in an area between buildings housing Healthcare Equipment and Supply and Mi Pueblo.</span>

<span>The immediate area was evacuated by first responders. Upon examination by the Carbondale/Southern Illinois University Police bomb squad and the Secretary of State's bomb squad, the backpack was determined to contain two yellow plastic bags containing an energy drink and several bags of assorted chips.</span>

<span>"We got the overall process done fairly quickly," Lukes said. "If you see something suspicious like this, it's not like 10 years ago. You have to take the necessary precautions."</span>

<span>Lukes said the backpack's owner, Josh Foster, later called in to the police department and identified the bag and its contents. Lukes said Foster will not face charges in connection to the incident.</span>

<span>Responding agencies, which included the Sparta police and fire departments, Randolph County Sheriff's Office and MedStar Ambulance, sounded the all-clear shortly before 4 p.m.</span>