Suspicious packages prompt evacuation of Billy the Kid Casino Friday
Packages were dropped off in the morning
- The investigation is ongoing, Ruidoso Downs police chief said
Suspicious packages prompted the evacuation of the Billy the Kid Casino early Friday, but by 1 p.m., the slot machines were back in business at Ruidoso Downs.
Ruidoso Downs Police Chief Carroll Scott said about 9:20 a.m., the department received a call from personnel at the casino.
"They discovered some packages left outside of their facility that they deemed to be suspicious," he said. "We responded, took a look and decided that it would be prudent to err of the side of caution, so we evacuated the facility and cut the utilities.and contacted the explosive ordnance disposal unit of the New Mexico State Police.
"They responded and were able to determine the packages did not contain anything threatening."
Law enforcement withdrew from the scene from about 1 p.m. The evacuation only involved staff, because the casino had not opened for the day, Scott said.
No cameras cover the area where the packages were left, but the investigation is on-going, he said.