VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. — The Vestavia Hills Police Department has confirmed that a package initially feared to be an explosive device has been safely cleared and posed no threat.

According to Capt. Michael Keller, the incident began shortly before 11:10 a.m. on Thursday when a local homeowner delivered a package to the police station. The homeowner, who was in the process of remodeling their residence, discovered the package at their front door and deemed it suspicious.

“We always prioritize caution when it comes to suspicious packages,” Keller stated. “Our responsibility is the safety of the public, and we don’t take any chances.”

Upon receiving the package, police took immediate precautionary measures by closing off the station’s front parking lot. The item was then placed in a secure containment box while awaiting further examination by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

By 11:53 a.m., the ATF had assessed the package and determined it was harmless. The package has since been disposed of by the agency.

“There was nothing dangerous about it,” Keller reassured. “It was completely inactive and posed no explosive threat.”

While Keller did not specify what was inside the package, he said there was no malicious intent to it and that no follow-up investigation would be necessary.

“This was absolutely a homeowner who found this and thought he was doing the right thing,” he said. “Perhaps he should’ve left it there and called us.”