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Jackson Police Department Bomb Squad members investigate the scene of a bomb scare at the Doctor's Pavilion Tuesday in Natchez. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Jackson Police Department Bomb Squad members work the scene of a bomb scare at the Doctor's Pavilion Tuesday in Natchez. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

First responders on the scene of a bomb scare at Doctor's Pavilion Tuesday in Natchez. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patton talks to other first responders during a bomb scare at the Doctor's Pavilion Tuesday in Natchez. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

Garret Maeir stands behind an ambulance with other first responders as a precaution during a bomb scare at the Doctor's Pavilion Tuesday in Natchez. (Nicole Hester / The Natchez Democrat)

NATCHEZ — The discovery of a suspicious but ultimately non-explosive package led to the clearing of the Doctor’s Pavilion next to Merit Health Natchez and a response from federal, state and local officials Tuesday morning.

Natchez Police Chief Daniel White said the police department received a call at 8:04 a.m. about a suspicious package a patient had discovered in a restroom at the building.

The package was approximately the size of a soda can and wrapped in black plastic, White said.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop M Spokesman Brandon Fortenbery said the MHP responded to the call at NPD’s request, and two different explosive detection dogs alerted on the package.

The building and parking lot were cleared after the first dog alerted on the package.

The Jackson Police Department’s bomb squad was called in to remove the package, which White said was later determined not to be explosive. The FBI also responded to the scene to provide support.

While the Doctor’s Pavilion is located next to Merit Health Natchez and has some hospital-affiliated practices located in it, a private physicians’ group owns it.

Dr. Kenneth Stubbs, one of the physician-owners, said he was glad everything worked out for the safety of everybody involved, and was grateful for the promptness and professionalism of all the responding agencies.

The office will be open as usual today, Stubbs said.

“The police have checked out things thoroughly, and it was unfortunate that somebody pulled a stunt this way,” he said. “I hate the disruption for the patients, all the appointments that had to be cancelled and rescheduled. It was a waste of a day, and I hope that there weren’t too many sick people out there who were kept from the care they needed.”

Merit Health Natchez Spokeswoman Kay Ketchings said that though some outpatient services and members of Merit Health Medical Group are located in the Doctor’s Pavilion, operations at the hospital itself were able to continue uninterrupted.

Patients who had appointments in the Doctor’s Pavilion were contacted to reschedule, she said.

“Our hospital has security measures in place designed to respond to a wide range of emergencies, and we regularly work with law enforcement to prepare for potential scenarios,” Ketchings said.

Natchez Police Detective Jerry Ford said the matter remains under investigation, and anyone with information about it can call the Natchez Police Department at 601-445-5565 or Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000.

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