Search for possible pipe bomb at Youngwood Shop 'n Save turns up empty

May 14—A man carrying a firearm was taken into custody and a bomb squad was called to investigate after the Youngwood Shop 'n Save and neighboring businesses were evacuated Friday.

Crews responded to the Youngwood Commons shopping plaza around 10:30 a.m., according to Youngwood Fire Chief Lloyd Crago.

State troopers detained a man who was sitting in a car in the plaza parking lot about the same time after receiving reports that he was "acting suspiciously," Trooper Stephen Limani said.

Officials say the man had a gun.

A bomb squad was called around 11:30 a.m. to investigate reports of a possible pipe bomb inside the grocery store. Nothing was found and the scene was cleared just after noon, Limani said.

In addition to the Shop 'n Save, the shopping plaza on South Third Street contains a Fine Wine & Good Spirits store, Subway, Dollar General and several other businesses.

Josh Coletta, who works at the Beer Warehouse next to the Shop 'n Save, said that he and other workers were unloading a delivery truck when they were interrupted by a female state trooper.

"She told us we had to evacuate the building and that's what we did," Coletta said.

Troopers told the workers to move to the other end of the shopping plaza, away from the grocery store, Coletta said.

"So we went down and waited at the BFS gas station until (state police) left. And to tell you the truth, that's about all we know ... We didn't hear anything else about the incident," Coletta said.

A manager at Shop 'n Save declined to comment.

Police have not issued a report on the incident.

Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at 724-850-2860, ppeirce@triblive.com or via Twitter .