Via the
Ohio Record-Courier:
The first suspicious package was reported around 7:15 a.m. Friday when a passerby flagged down a passing officer regarding a strange box on the steps of Immaculate Conception Church, 225 S. Sycamore St., according to Ravenna Police Chief Randall McCoy. The box was wrapped in gold paper and had black question marks painted on the sides.
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Church employees told officers they had no idea what the package was and were not aware of any packages of this nature having been left at the church before.
The Portage County Hazardous Materials Unit was contacted, along with the Portage County Sheriff's Department Bomb Detection Unit. The HAZMAT team checked for radiation and chemical warfare agents, none of which were detected.
McCoy said at the same time agents were dealing with the situation at Immaculate Conception, more calls came in to the Ravenna Police Department that other similar packages were being found in various locations.
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Five teenage girls allegedly playing a game they learned about on the Internet could face criminal charges after leaving 17 suspicious packages throughout Ravenna.
"The girls found an Internet site called Mario Question Blocks which told you step by step how the game is played, along with instructions on wrapping the packages, just to see what kind of response you get," McCoy said. "This game is evidently being played all over the country."
McCoy said even though no harm was intended by the girls, they could face criminal charges for their actions.