Las Cruces school evacuated when suspicious device found nearby; area near where device exploded in August

A City of Las Cruces utility crew working on the 1300 block of North Miranda discovered a suspicious device under a water manhole cover in the street at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The crew notified police who notified the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad.

A robot was deployed to check out the device the bomb squad determined the device was not a threat.

The device was discovered in front of Holy Cross School. All 250 students from Holy Cross School were evacuated and transported to the district courthouse parking lot a half mile away where parents could pick up their children.

The school is attached to Holy Cross Catholic Church.

A suspicious device exploded this summer at Holy Cross Catholic Church during a Mass on Aug. 2. Nobody was hurt during that explosion. Authorities are still asking for help in solving the church explosions from August.

Las Cruces Police do not believe the item found Tuesday, Oct. 20 is related to the two explosive devices that detonated at Holy Cross Catholic Church and at Calvary Baptist Church this past summer.