LEHIGHTON, PA — The Lehighton Borough Police Department responded to a report of a suspicious package at the American Legion, Post 314, on April 20, 2026 at approximately 3:05 p.m.
A patron of the American Legion observed a white male with a beard discard a cylinder-shaped item on the north side porch of the building and flee the area when approached.
Officers arrived on location and discovered the item to be cylinder-shaped with markings displayed reading “Chemical Hazards.”
Officers created a safety perimeter and evacuated the American Legion of all remaining patrons.
Vehicle traffic on Bridge Street and Millway were closed.
Due to the circumstances of the event and unknown device type or motive, the Allentown Bomb Squad was contacted and responded.
The Allentown Bomb Squad arrived and conducted a scan of the device.
The device was determined to be undeployed and contain an inert chemical compound used to produce a toxic fume and dispatch animals.
The item was removed from the scene and disposed of by the Allentown Bomb Squad without incident.
No persons were injured in this event.
The identity of the male subject is unknown and still under investigation.
The scene was cleared, traffic resumed and patrons were permitted to return into the building at approximately 6:10 p.m.
Assisting on location were the Lehighton Fire Department, Lehighton Ambulance, Carbon County Emergency Management, District Attorney and County Detectives, and Allentown Bomb Squad.
