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Authorities Scour Park After Departure Of Occupy Protesters

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- After 118 days, Occupy Pittsburgh protesters marched out of Mellon Green Park declaring victory Wednesday evening.

Following their departure, the Allegheny County Sheriff's Department came in early this morning to make sure everyone was gone and everything was safe.

At approximately 5:10 a.m., 60 sheriff's deputies started checking over Mellon Green Park, only to find old tents and piles of trash.

"They've abandoned the park," said Sheriff William Mullen, of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office. "They've left; there's nothing there."

That was fully expected by the Sheriff's Department with the exception of one serious concern.

"It was a couple days ago that when they left that they were going to leave something for BNY Mellon 'that was going to go boom,'" said Mullen.

Deputies and bomb-sniffing dogs swept through the abandoned camp tent-by-tent and garbage pile-by-garbage pile until the all-clear was given.

"Last night when they moved out, it was the best thing to happen for everybody involved," said Mullen. "There was no violence. We had some Intel, which was indicating that they were wearing down. I think this may be the first city in the country they just left peacefully without interaction with the police."

By 6 a.m., crews began fencing in Mellon Green waiting for a dumpster and exterminator.

"Once the fence goes up, they're probably going to have to get rid of all the rats," Mullen added. "We've seen a number of rats this morning."

About one dozen tents were left by protesters. They will be spared for pick-up for a while, but if no one claims them, they'll be thrown away.

RELATED LINKS:
Allegheny County Sheriff's Office
Occupy Pittsburgh
More Occupy Pittsburgh News

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