Our CBS affiliate KIDK reports Pocatello police and other emergency officials were kept busy yesterday after getting a call about a suspicious package that one resident thought might be a pipe bomb. Officers quickly blocked off all the streets in the area and called the bomb squad in Twin Falls to dispose of the object.

Once the bomb squad arrived it only took about 45-minutes to peacefully end the tense situation that lasted about seven hours. Sgt. Roger Schei, with the Pocatello Police said, "Anytime you have a situation like this you need to take it as it's a real situation."

About 3:30 yesterday afternoon police received a call from a man describing what he thought was a pipe bomb laying in the middle of W. Young St. in Pocatello.

Officers took pictures of the object, and immediately called for the bomb squad. "We cordoned off the area, we set up a perimeter, and we started making some phone calls. And we had to just jump through the hoops of getting them out here," said Schei.

It took several hours for the bomb squad to get to Pocatello from Twin Falls because they had to get approval from the state to make the trip.

Once they arrived around 10 PM they made quick work of the object. Schei said, "They put a protective barrier surrounding the device. They then used a water charge to destroy it."

When officers had a chance to examine the device they found it was nothing more than a flashlight wrapped in duct tape, but they say it's always better to be safe. "People shouldn't ever try to really investigate things on their own. I mean if you 've got any questions give us a call and always err on the side of safety and good judgment," said Schei.

Several residents came out to watch the bomb squad dispose of the suspicious package, and no homes had to be evacuated. All of the roads were reopened about 11:00 PM.

The situation might have ended a little sooner if the bomb squad from Idaho Falls had been able to respond to the area, but some of their crew members are still in training.