Nothing suspicious in package found near State House, Columbia police say

Columbia police say they found nothing suspicious in a package left in a U.S. Postal Service mailbox near the State House on Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities tested the package “out of an over abundance of caution” after reports of a suspicious package at the corner of Sumter and Pendleton streets, the Columbia Police Department said in a message on Twitter.

The mailbox is just outside of Carolina Cafe, located on the first floor of the Cornell Arms apartment building across Pendleton Street from the State House. Authorities closed off the intersection of Sumter and Pendleton streets for roughly an hour to investigate.

Staff writer Cassie Cope contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 5:09 PM.