UNATTENDED SALAD PROMPTS COURTHOUSE ALERT

PITTSBURGH -- A salad left unattended in a bag under a restroom sink prompted the closing of the Grant Street entrance to the Allegheny County Courthouse, and the evacuation of county Chief Executive Dan Onorato's office for about one hour Tuesday afternoon.

Two bomb-sniffing dogs were sent in to the ground floor ladies room after a paper bag was spotted around 1:20 p.m. Officials said the dogs immediately turned up their noses after a few whiffs and that’s how they knew the bag contained a salad.

“Dusty and Princess loathe salads, especially Catalina dressing,” Allegheny County Police Commander Muck Henson explained.

The alert was lifted by 2:20 p.m. after Henson consumed the salad. “I couldn’t see throwing it out,” he said.


Henson said he ordered the evacuation as a precaution. The restroom is directly below Mr. Onorato's office. Henson quickly pointed out, “There is no peep hole in Onorato’s office for him to look into the ladies room.”