Florida man arrested for having ‘hoax weapon of mass destruction’ after his ‘dirty bomb’ declare scrambled explosive consultants and closed roads: police | EUROtoday

What began as a routine visitors cease was a multi-agency operation after a Florida man instructed police he had a “dirty bomb” in his automobile, authorities say.

The incident started when officers from the Haines City Police Department performed a visitors cease on Benjamin Johnson’s Chevrolet Silverado. The car was believed to be concerned in a crash close to the Publix at 39883 Highway 27 in Davenport.

Johnson, 43, allegedly refused to comply with instructions to exit his car. Police finally pulled him out of the truck and located a number of weapons, ammunition and firearm journal velocity loaders.

They additionally discovered thermal scopes, knives, a battering ram, and night-vision goggles, in addition to hashish and THC-infused gummies.

However, issues took one other unusual flip when Johnson, who was being detained in a patrol automobile, acknowledged the existence of a “dirty bomb” within the truck. Upon additional inspection, police discovered a yellow plastic container secured with chains and locks with a radioactive warning label.

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Officers secured the world, closed close by roads, and referred to as within the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives. A Florida State Fire investigator confirmed the container was emitting radioactivity earlier than the bomb squad arrived.

Officials decided that the yellow container held a “Moisture Density Gauge,” a soil-testing gadget with much less radioactivity than a medical X-ray.

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He now faces a number of fees, together with hoax weapon of mass destruction, false report regarding a bomb or explosive, illegal possession of a managed substance, and resisting officers with out violence. Haines City police reported that Johnson beforehand had a marijuana possession arrest in Tennessee.

Johnson instructed authorities that he lived within the car alongside his canine, who has now been launched to Animal Control.

Police took the yellow container for additional inspection by the Florida Bureau of Radioactive Materials, whereas the weapons discovered additionally stay underneath investigation.