Police blocked traffic for around an hour Monday afternoon near the Field House while investigating a suspicious cooler.

The brand-new red and white container was on the sidewalk near the intersection of Melrose and South Grand Avenues, said Charles Green, the assistant vice president for the UI police.

There were no related threats, he said.

“We didn’t think there was anything in it, but we just wanted to be certain,” Green said.

The afternoon scare ended after members of the Johnson County Metro Bomb Squad X-rayed the package, determined it was not a threat, then took it away.

Anytime UI police think a package is suspicious they will check it out to make sure it is safe, Green said.

— by Danny Valentine