The all-clear was sounded around Midway Middle School early this afternoon after a suspicious device in a vehicle caused a bomb scare in the morning and students were evacuated.

The nearby Liberty Elementary School was locked down, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Valya Lee.

Larry Logan, assistant Liberty County EMA director, said a GBI explosives team deemed the vehicle, in which a suspected explosive device, as safe about 1 p.m. The vehicle was towed off.

Liberty County Sheriff Steve Sikes told Savannah media the suspicious vehicle had been reported stolen out of Savannah and was parked at the woodline behind the school.

His chief deputy, Jon Long, later told WSAV TV the scare had been an "elaborate hoax."

Logan said vehicle had a propane tank with a pipe attached to it with wires extending from it. The wires appeared to be attached to the doors, however when the explosive team entered the vehicle using a robot it was determined the wires were not attached to any part of the vehicle. The trunk of the vehicle had been blown open and nothing was found inside, according to Logan.

Middle school students had been bused to Liberty County High School in the morning and those who had not been picked up during the day were bused back to MMS and then home on the regular schedule.

At about the same time an attempted robbery was reported at Interstate Unlimited Credit Union, which is about three miles down Highway 84 from the schools. Officials said they had suspects in custody from the robbery scene. But they could not say if they two crimes were connected.