The Toledo Police bomb squad detonated a suspicious package outside One Government Center today, authorities said.

The white package was noticed at about 8 a.m. on a picnic table on the northeast side of the building near the rear entrance and the adjacent parking garage.

“It was a U.S. mail package and some type of round cylinder was inside,” said Ohio State Trooper Lt. William Bowers.

An employee at government center reported the package to a state police officer stationed at the building. The package was X-rayed by the bomb squad before it was detonated with a water cannon.

“We just wanted to be safe rather than sorry,” Lieutenant Bowers said.

The lobby, third, and fourth floors of the government center were evacuated before the detonation just after 10 a.m.

Police and troopers closed off streets around the building during the investigation. A government employee, Christopher Harrison, a legislative aid for Toledo City Council, was arrested and charged with misconduct at an emergency, Toledo police said. Mr. Harrison walked near the blast zone on the east side of the building after the detonation and either ignored or did not hear police orders to stop, authorities said.

One Government Center houses city and county offices.

First Published June 13, 2013, 1:02 p.m.