Adairsville Police were investigating a suspicious suitcase left in the United Community Bank parking lot near the intersection of Ga. 140 and U.S. Highway 41 Friday evening.

The package, a blue suitcase, was found to be empty after law enforcement had evacuated nearby buildings.

“We took our instructions from the law enforcement,” said United Community Bank President Gary Floyd. “Our customers and employees were evacuated without incident or injury.”

“You can’t let your guard down, especially with the anniversary of 9/11 approaching and [the package] being located between the post office and a financial institution,” said Interim Adairsville Police Chief Robert Jones.

Officials from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were on scene to investigate the possible bomb and secure the area for safety precautions to all residents and motorists as traffic was diverted from the area.

“I would like to take this opportunity to commend our interim chief, Robert Jones, on his prompt response and readiness to handle an emergency with their expertise,” Pat Crook, Adairsville city manager, said. “It is good to see how the different agencies, local, state and federal, work well together to keep our community safe.”

The suitcase was found to be empty and will be fully processed by law enforcement for evidence of who placed it in the parking lot.

— Eric Pass of The North Bartow News contributed to this report

Reckless driver halts school bus

A man in a blue Mazda stopped a school bus Friday afternoon. According to a Bartow County Sheriff’s Office deputy’s report, the man, identified as Roger Edeker, had pulled in front of the bus and told the driver to call 911 to report that he was being chased by three car loads of Outlaw motorcycle gang members who had pointed a pump shotgun at him.

The bus driver told police that Edeker had swerved into his lane, head on, and he had to stop quickly to avoid a collision. The driver became nervous and drove around Edeker, only to have Edeker pull up beside him and swerve again while braking repeatedly.

Upon investigation, there were no calls regarding vehicles chasing a blue Mazda. Edeker claimed that his blood sugar was high and he needed milk to lower it. EMS arrived on scene and determined that his blood sugar was at an acceptable level. Edeker was arrested and charged with reckless driving.

Man impersonates Acworth police officer

Someone impersonating an Acworth Police officer has made numerous harassing phone calls to a Chickasaw Way, Acworth, resident. According to a deputy’s report, the woman said she received multiple calls from the suspect, who claimed he was an investigator with the Acworth PD and was demanding that the complainant meet him at the Acworth Walmart on U.S. Highway 41 and pay a fine for an unknown offense.

While the woman was speaking to the deputy, the suspect called again and spoke to the deputy, again claiming that he was an investigator with the Acworth PD and he had active fraud cases against the complainant. The deputy questioned the suspect about law enforcement codes, none of which the suspect knew. Acworth police advised the man was not one of their employees.

Bag of diamonds reported missing

A small bag of diamonds was reported as lost Thursday morning to the Cartersville Police Department. According to the officer’s report, a man had the diamonds removed from pieces of jewelry at Stiles Jewelry and may have dropped the bag while taking his wallet out of his pocket to get gas at the QT. The bag was unable to be located at the store.