Florida Man Claims to Have Dirty Bomb After Car Crash
Authorities reported that a Florida man, heavily armed, warned police he possessed a “dirty bomb” after crashing his vehicle into a grocery store. This alarming statement triggered a lockdown in the area.
On Friday night, officers from the Haines City Police Department responded to a motor vehicle accident at a Publix in Davenport.
“Officers found a yellow plastic container chained and locked, displaying a radioactive warning label. They quickly moved to a safe distance, blocked off the road, and called for the Fire, Arson and Explosives Bureau for assistance,” police stated.
The driver, Benjamin Donald Johnson, 43, was connected to the accident. Documentation from the police indicated, “Officers had to physically remove Mr. Johnson from the truck, where multiple firearms were clearly visible.”
While officers secured Johnson in the back of a patrol vehicle, he allegedly mentioned there was a “dirty bomb” in his Chevrolet Silverado.
Police discovered the yellow container, which was then assessed for safety. They cordoned off the area for a few hours to ensure everyone’s safety.
Investigators from the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office arrived and confirmed that the container was emitting “positive radioactivity” prior to the bomb squad’s arrival.
Bomb technicians from various agencies started investigating the potential threat. Inside the yellow container, they identified it as a moisture meter typically used for soil testing, noting it had less radioactivity than medical X-rays.
The container was taken to the Haines City Police Department and will be further examined by personnel from the Florida Radioactive Materials Agency.
During a search of Johnson’s truck, officers found multiple firearms, ammunition, a thermal scope, night vision goggles, and substances later tested positive for THC, including marijuana and gummies.
Johnson told investigators he was in the area for work, living out of his truck with his dog, who was later handed to local animal control.
According to statements from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson was arrested and faces several charges: fabrication of a weapon of mass destruction, false communication about an explosive, resisting arrest without violence, and others, including driving under the influence.
Records reveal that Johnson previously faced charges for marijuana possession in Tennessee.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing, with no immediate response from the Haines City Police or Polk County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.
