BENTONVILLE — The Bentonville Bomb Squad removed suspicious items from a vacant hotel Wednesday morning after a police officer discovered a door to one of the rooms was propped open.
Two squad members in protective suits removed a white bucket labeled for chlorine tablets and a gasoline can from room 107 at the Travelodge, 2307 S.E. Walton Blvd. Officers also found PVC pipe and wiring in the room, Police Chief Jon Simpson said.
The hotel has been closed since April 2012, according to sales tax figures from the Bentonville Advertising and Promotion Commission.
An officer patrolling around the building noticed a room door open about 6:38 a.m. and went inside to investigate. The officer called for the bomb squad just before 7 a.m. The material could have been part of a hoax device or even an experiment, Simpson said.
The bomb squad sent robots into the room before the two officers suited up for a hands-on investigation. After no threat was detected, police and fire officials peered into the white bucket and searched the room.
A Braum’s just west of the hotel was evacuated about 8:50 a.m. Employees sat outside for about an hour as investigators worked next door.
The Police Department patrols of the property after reports of activity at the vacant hotel, Simpson said.
“We want the neighboring businesses to be our eyes and ears here,” he said.
The department has been called to the hotel several times since Jan. 1. Officers checked the building several times in January and February. They were called about a suspicious person March 10. Police records show officers checked the building and did extra patrols March 23 and March 30.
The 24,608-square-foot hotel has 55 rooms and is priced for sale at $2.9 million. The First Federal Bank website lists the property as being under contract.
Blair Cromwell, communications director for the Bentonville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, said she wasn't aware of the property being sold. The Bentonville Planning Department said there are no permits out on the building.