BEAUMONT — Beaumont Police now say they believe a "legitimate explosive device" was found early Thursday morning at the Dowlen Road Starbucks location.
The suspicious package which contained the device was "rendered safe" by bomb technicians from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives according to a release from the Beaumont Police Department.
The Port Arthur Fire Department EOC K-9 assisted according to the release.
The package was discovered at the Starbucks in the 3900 block of Dowlen Road near the Kroger grocery store.
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told 12News that the “device could have caused harm if detonated properly."
Police confirmed in the release that a note was found in the package but did not disclose what it said.
A Starbucks employee who asked to remain anonymous told 12News that a note found inside the package read "Die U.S.A."
The package, which was initially found outside the Starbucks, was brought inside by an employee according to the release.
The employee noticed the note when they attempted to open the package and then put it back outside and called police.
Police were called at about 4:45 a.m. and closed Dowlen Road near Folsom for almost three hours.
Employees told police the package had been at the store for a few days.
Police ask anyone who may have seen the package on a garbage can outside the Starbucks or have information to call the FBI's Houston field office at 713-693-5000.
Police also ask that anyone who may have taken photos or video in or around the Starbucks in the past few days as far back as Monday, April
23, 2018, please check their images for anything suspicious.
The FBI Joint Terrorism task Force and BATF are assisting Beaumont Police with the investigation.
Police also remind everyone that “If you see something, say something”.
This is a developing story. We will update with more as soon as we receive confirmed information.