ROCKLAND — Main Street in downtown Rockland was closed to vehicle traffic and pedestrians in the vicinity of Key Bank at around 12:30 p.m. today, from Park Street to Tillson Avenue, following the discovery of a suspicious bag on the sidewalk.

Rockland Deputy Chief Wally Tower said that a call came in about a suspicious bag left beside a trash can in front of the bank at 331 Main St.

The Rockland Fire Department was called to clear the area and block the streets, along with Rockland police, and the Maine State Police bomb squad was called.

About 45 minutes later, Tower said a man showed up and said, “This isn’t about my bag, is it?”

“Apparently the man was walking by the bank carrying a canvas lunch type bag and he wanted to dispose of it, but he thought maybe someone else would want it, so instead of putting it in the trash can, he set it down beside the trash can on the sidewalk and walked away,” said tower. “So we closed the street, cleared everybody away, called the bomb squad....and then he came back.”

The man told police what he had done, and that the bag was empty, clearing the way for first responders to deem everybody and everything safe again.

“In today’s day and age, it what’s we have to do,” said Tower. “Nobody thinks it can happen in Rockland, but nobody thought it would happen in Boston either.”

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.