Palatka Daily News - Bomb Scare Report

Bomb scare evacuates Interlachen post office;
turns out to be turntable player
By Ron Bartlett

The Interlachen post office was evacuated for more than four hours Friday morning because of a suspicious package, pulling in bomb squad units from the Alachua and Marion County sheriff’s offices, according to the Interlachen Police Department.
The briefcase-sized package, which turned out to be an old turntable record player, was discovered in the lobby of the post office just after 8:30 a.m. After inspection revealed no forwarding or return address, the post office manager notified Interlachen police, who locked down the building and evacuated all employees.
“It was a good size box and even the bomb squad, when they showed up, said, ‘don’t blame me for not wanting to touch it,’” said Palatka Postmaster Alan Foster, who was on the scene for most of the day.
After Interlachen police notified the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, PCSO Lt. Richard Harrell arrived on scene and notified the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, whose bomb disposal unit serves the area.
One bomb removal specialist arrived from the sheriff’s offices of both Alachua and Marion counties, who together used a bomb squad robot to investigate the parcel.
Over the course of several hours, the two deputies retrieved, removed and opened the package, which turned out to be an old-fashioned phonograph record player.
The scene was finally considered secure at 1:30 p.m.
A postal inspector was called in and will continue the investigation. Foster said that 24-hour surveillance tape active during the night will be scrutinized for possible clues.
Anyone with information should notify the Interlachen Police Department at 684-2164.