Portage Police are investigating an incident involving a suspicious package that was found at the Speedway gas station located at 5011 Central Avenue on Thursday, said Sgt. Keith Hughes, public information officer.

At 4:41 p.m., police were dispatched to the gas station in reference to a suspicious package that was left near the gas pumps on a garbage can. Upon officers arrival, it was learned the secured postal package had a delivery address of “Iraq” and was from “Dr. Phil.”

After inspecting the package briefly, the business was shut down and evacuated. The Porter County Bomb Squad was called to inspect and secure the package.

Once the bomb squad arrived, they worked in conjunction with a NICTD Police Department K-9 handler who used his bomb dog to search the package after it was x-rayed. The K-9 did not make any positive alerts for explosives.

The package was then removed from the scene and opened. Officers found the package empty.

Hughes said Portage police will continue to investigate.

Posted 3/30/2012