Toolbox Forces Vivint Smart Home Arena Evacuations

Nov 22, 2019, 10:25 PM | Updated: Nov 23, 2019, 12:37 am

FILE: The Miller family lets the public take self-guided tours of the renovated Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

BY JOSH ELLIS, KSL TV

KSLTV.com

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Vivint Smart Home Arena was evacuated Friday night after officials with the Salt Lake City Police Department said there was a security issue with a suspicious package.

Police later confirmed the package in question was a toolbox and there was no threat to the public.

The evacuations took place after a Utah Jazz game against the Golden State Warriors Friday night.

Media and players were told they needed to leave the arena just after 9:45 p.m.

All media and players were told that we needed to evacuate Vivint smart home arena. There’s no known reason as of yet. #TakeNote

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 23, 2019

NO JOKE PLEASE STAY SAFE UTAH!

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) November 23, 2019

Lieutenant Carlos Valencia with the Salt Lake City Police Department said security reported a suspicious shoebox package under a table in a dining area on the main floor of the arena.

“Upon further examination, it was concluded that we would enact our emergency action plan,” said Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment Senior Vice President of Communications Frank Zang in a statement. “Security was promptly alerted and guests were diverted away from the area and cleared from the arena. Salt Lake City Police Department assumed control of the situation, executing its suspicious package protocol.”

A bomb-sniffing K-9 officer got a hit on the toolbox and Valencia said the bomb squad was called in to render the box safe.

Police issued an all-clear at 11:32 p.m., according to Zang.

“We would like to thank fans for their attention and cooperation, as well as the Salt Lake City Police Department for their responsiveness and partnership,” he said.

The @UtahJazz released a statement on tonight’s suspicious package.

Seems like good work from the Jazz and first responders, obviously great it wasn’t anything serious. pic.twitter.com/da6bJpv3C7

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) November 23, 2019

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