MIAMI (WSVN) - The Miami Police headquarters has been given the all clear following the discovery of two suspicious packages on the premises, Tuesday morning.
Just after 10 a.m., Miami Police tweeted that the bomb squad was on the scene of the Miami Police Headquarters, located at 400 N.W. 2nd Ave. They warned nearby residents to stay away from the area.
According to Miami Police officer Frederica Burden, it all started when police received a phone call. “The front desk officer was advised that there was a package that was left at the police department,” she said. “We notified the commanding officer, which is the lieutenant, that was at the station. We then notified the bomb squad, evacuated the building and let the bomb squad do their job.”
The first package was detonated by the bomb squad at around 11:15 a.m. and was found to be benign.
UPDATE: Bomb Squad just detonated suspicious package. pic.twitter.com/qu9lK8oAZT
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) July 26, 2016
At around 11:35 a.m., the second package was detonated by the bomb squad. It was also found to be benign.
Update: 2nd package detonated…standby and the all clear. pic.twitter.com/ElaPhES8pf
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) July 26, 2016
“It was an actual duffel bag and inside the duffel bag was a small package, which was another bag, and they detonated the duffel bag,” said Burden. “Once they detonated the duffel bag, they found the other package inside, so they detonated it twice.”
For safety measures, dispatchers had to relocate until given the all clear.
“The dispatchers went to the training facility at the fire department where they normally go when they have something that is occurring,” said Burden, “where they have to evacuate the building or when something is being repaired in their building.”
At around 11:45 a.m., the bomb squad secured the scene and gave the headquarters the all clear.
ALL CLEAR! Bomb Squad has secured the scene. No explosives located in package. pic.twitter.com/NFf282MYQy
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) July 26, 2016
The department was at a standstill for at least an hour. However, all necessary precautions were taken when handling a suspicious package situation.
“Better safe than sorry,” said Burden. “A little inconvenience, but everyone returned safely back to the station.”
Police temporarily closed the north end of Fifth Street and the south end of Second Street, on North Miami Avenue. These streets have since reopened.
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