WARREN — (UPDATED Dec. 17, 11:27 a.m.) Following the use of an explosive-sniffing K9, law enforcement officials with the State Police Bomb Squad determined Wednesday night, Dec. 16, that a suspicious device found attached to a footbridge at Warren’s Merrill Payson Park was safe.

Knox County Sheriff Donna Dennison said in an email Thursday morning that Deputy Nathaniel Jack made contact with a complainant, who called authorities after finding the device on the bridge by the Merrill Payson Park playground.

The complainant said he spotted the device, which had been pointed out to him by two other people, while walking across the bridge.

Jack said in his report that he walked down to the bridge to check out the device, which was located 10 to 12 feet from the end of the bridge. Jack said it was painted olive drab green, and appeared to be an Arizona Ice Tea can.

"The top of the can was facing up, and it was zip tied to a paint stir stick, which was zip-tied to the bridge,” said Jack. “There was a fine string ‘fuse’ coming from the base of the device. The bottom of the can was taped with black tape.”

Jack said he checked with staff at the Warren Town Office and Public Works to see if the device was something they were aware of, or had placed there, and they said no.

After Sgt. Patrick Polky arrived on scene, the State Police Bomb Squad and the Fire Marshal's Office were called, and they took over the scene from the Sheriff's Office. After rendering the device safe, a sweep of the area was conducted by an explosive-sniffing canine, which found nothing during the search.

WARREN — The entrance to Merrill Payson Park along Route 90 in Warren remains blocked by law enforcement Wednesday night, while a suspicious object in the vicinity is being investigated.

Knox County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Tim Carroll said in an 8 p.m. update that the item is possibly incendiary in nature.

Late Wednesday afternoon, deputies with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department were joined at the scene by Maine State Police troopers. Route 90 remained open to traffic, but the park entrance was closed off.

In the Wednesday night update Carroll said, “The investigation of the suspicious container in Warren has been turned over to the Maine Fire Marshall's Office due to the possibility of it being an incendiary device. Sgt. Ken Grimes has command of the incident and the Sheriff's Office will be assisting has needed by the office”

Contact Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com and 207-706-6655. Sarah Shepherd contributed.