MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - The Miami Beach Police Department’s headquarters has been deemed safe after officers were alerted of a possible bomb threat.
The Miami-Dade Police Department’s bomb squad gave the all-clear signal, just before 7 p.m., Tuesday.
The department took to Twitter to announce the precautionary evacuation of the building along the 1100 block of Washington Avenue, just after 3:30 p.m.
“We go to these scenes a lot,” Miami Beach Police spokesperson Ernesto Rodriguez said. “This is the first time that I can recall where we’ve had this incident here at the Miami Beach Police Department.”
POLICE: Out of an abundance of caution the MBPD HQ at 1100 Washington Avenue is being evacuated. Bomb detection K9’s alerted to an area of our department. All 911 calls will be handled through our EOC, there will be NO disruption to emergency services. pic.twitter.com/UaqbY5s6wH
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) July 23, 2019
Police said a bomb detection K-9 alerted them to an area of the department.
“That is when a K-9 alerted to an odor in the lobby of our police department,” Rodriguez said.
However, police said all emergency services continued to operate without interruption.
All 911 calls were handled by the department’s emergency operations center, police said.
“Our emergency 911 calls center rolled over to our EOC, so there’s been no disruption in service thankfully,” Rodriguez said.
7News cameras captured the Miami-Dade Police Department’s bomb squad truck and Miami Beach Police’s mobile command center parked not far from the complex.
The threat left nearby residents, like Leah Barney, concerned for their safety.
“I’m a little bit concerned for sure,” she said. “I didn’t know what was going on, and it was a lot of people — and a lot of cops — blocking off all the streets.”
Police said K-9 officers from Hialeah Police also aided in the investigation.
Officers could be seen blocking the streets surrounding the complex with police SUVs.
Police restricted traffic surrounding the complex while the scene remained active. Drivers were advised to use Collins Avenue or Meridian Avenue as an alternative route.
Police reopened all of the roads shortly after the all-clear signal was given.
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