Shopping Center Scare

Florida Destin Portions of a popular shopping center in Destin Florida were shut down after security guards spotted what appeared to be a pipe bomb.

by WKRG Staff

Published: Sat, February 21, 2009 - 11:47 am CST Last Updated: Sat, February 21, 2009 - 6:59 pm CST

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, portions of Destin Commons were cordoned off late Friday night after two security guards spotted what appeared to be a pipe bomb leaning on a wall of the Panera Bread restaurant.

According to authorities, when deputies arrived they found a 18-inch pipe with electrical tape over both ends and a wire extending from one end. The area was then closed off and the Bay County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad was called in.

The team was able to determine that the device was non-explosive and the scene was cleared.

According to witnesses, a transient was spotted earlier in the area playing an electric guitar with an amplifier. It is suspected that the device found was possibly a homemade power source.

Okaloosa County Sheriffs say there is no evidence of any criminal intent at this time.

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Wait4Me Says:

Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 5:25 pm

Don’t get your panties in a wad Dew, It was an honest mistake if that is what you mean.. Also the pipe could have been filled with batteries and taped at the end.

DEW26M Says:

Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 5:20 pm

Wait4Me, thank you for completely misconstruing my comment! I said, and I quote:

“Please explain to me how one gets “POWER” from a piece of pipe with a wire hanging out of it! ”

I did not question as to why one thought it may be a bomb, I can see the resemblance! I was questioning this statement, and I quote:

“It is suspected that the device found was possibly a homemade power source.”

Wait4Me Says:

Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 8:11 am

Dew, there are several different reasons, they would assume the item was a bomb. I will not go into detail, but the item could have contained an already volatile or motion sensitive chemical. Several items mixed together could react when moved; adding power would only facilitate this reaction. So to assume that the item may explode with out a noticeable power source is standard protocol for all suspicious devices, especially in today’s environment.