‘Suspicious device’ prompts Cruces closures

This isn’t the first time that suspicious devices have been investigated at Las Cruces churches.

LAS CRUCES >> A suspicious device found at a Las Cruces church Friday morning is prompting a heavy police response in the vicinity of Las Cruces High School. No other details were available.

In a news release, Las Cruces Police said a groundskeeper at First Presbyterian Church in Las Cruces located a suspicious device.

A portion of busy Boutz Road between Main Street and El Paseo has been closed to traffic.

The device, which sources say appears to be a pipe bomb, was found intact and investigators are looking into the possibility that it may have been placed around the same time as the August 2 bombs, but failed to detonate for unknown reasons.

Authorities also have called for a number of businesses and apartment complexes near the church to shelter in place. Each building sustained minor damage.

Several local, state and federal agencies, including the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working together on the case.

There were no injuries or deaths from the blasts outside Calvary Baptist and Holy Cross Roman Catholic.

The device was found Friday morning by a groundkeeper at the church.

Last week, law enforcement officials released surveillance footage of a person of interest sought in connection with the explosions.