Howard County Police Detonate 'Suspicious Item' in Ellicott City

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The all clear has been given after Howard County Police detonated a suspicious item in Ellicott City early Friday morning, authorities said.

Police closed off north and southbound lanes of Route 29 at Route 40 and Frederick Road between Tollhouse Road and St. Johns Lane after 9 p.m. Thursday after finding the object, the agency reported on social media.

Hours later, about 12:30 a.m., police wrote that they had destroyed the item as a precautionary measure.

UPDATE All clear, everyone's okay, rds reopening. Out of abundance of caution, suspicious item destroyed, unclear if criminal at this point.
— Howard County Police Department (@HCPDNews) July 22, 2016

There's an ongoing investigation to find out whether someone planted the object with criminal intent, according to police.