Seminole Indian Administration Building Evacuated
Man Drops Off Suitcase Containing Vials
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Police say that a suitcase containing several vials was dropped in the lobby of the Seminole Indian Administration Building, and a comment made by the man who dropped it off led to an evacuation of the building.
A spokesperson for the tribe said that a man ran into the building carrying a metal suitcase at about 10:20 a.m. Monday. Witnesses said that the man yelled, "This is for the chairman," before running from the building.
The man was stopped outside by security workers. Once the suitcase was opened and several vials containing an unknown material were discovered inside, a hazardous materials team and the Broward Sheriff's Office bomb squad were called to the building that is located in the 6300 block of Stirling Road.
Once the man was in custody and the building was evacuated, investigators turned their attention to the white Volkswagen convertible that the man was driving. There was no word as to what they were looking for or what may have been found in the vehicle.
Employees were allowed back into the building at about 1 p.m.
The man is being questioned by BSO. There was no word as to what, if any, charges he faces.
Suspicious Package Empties Seminole Offices
(CBS4 News) HOLLYWOOD, FL. A man is in custody, and the offices of the Seminole Tribe of Florida were briefly evacuated, after the man allegedly ran into the Hollywood building with a locked package and handed it to a receptionist. Police say he told the receptionist that opening it would be ‘like opening Pandora’s box’, and then, dashed out of the building.
Security guards were able to stop the man, now identified as Bruce W. Covell, 42 of Oakland Park.
After looking at the package, which was locked with handcuffs, Seminole officials decided to evacuate the building.
The Hollywood Hazardous Materials squad and the Broward Sheriff’s Office bomb squad were called to the building, and while they were able to quickly determine there was no bomb threat, they did check the package for any other suspicious materials.
Investigators also checked the suspect’s car, parked outside the Tribe’s headquarters, and were questioning him about his reasons for leaving the package.
About 300 people were evacuated from the building but everyone was allowed back by 2 p.m. Nobody was hurt during the incident.