Robot helps remove suspicious device from downtown Marion parking lot

Access to Marion's Uptown business district has been restored after police used a robot to remove a suspicious device found near a business.

Cedar Rapids' bomb-disposal robot was called in to handle the device from the parking lot next to 642 10th St. The device was placed in a shielded trailer and taken to an undisclosed location for safe disposal, and barricades diverting traffic from 10th Street between Seventh and Sixth avenues were removed about noon.

Cathy Petersen, owner of Witte's End Coffeehouse, said officers came to her shop, next to the lot where the device was found, about 10:15 a.m. and told her and her customers to leave. Petersen said the officers told her the device was a pipe bomb.

Further details will be posted as they become available.