Chaos erupted in the heart of San Tan Valley on Monday when a bomb threat spurred a mass evacuation of local businesses. The Pinal County Sheriff's Office reported receiving a distressing 911 call at around 10:00 a.m. regarding a suspicious package with menacing contents, purported to be a bomb, left at a non-affiliated post office situated near Hunt Highway and Gary Road. The impacted area included a range of establishments, from a Jimmy Johns to the bustling Home Depot, as FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
The sheriff's office outlined the area as a no-go zone, evacuating nearby buildings, with a bomb squad arriving on the scene to investigate the dubious package. Wearing blue jeans, a t-shirt, and sunglasses, the suspect described as being a skinny white male has yet to be identified or apprehended. Authorities confirmed to ABC 15 that no residential areas faced any subsequent risk.
The afternoon saw a dissipating tension as the Pinal County Sheriff's Office declared the suspicious package null of threat and gave an all-clear signal to the community. "The suspicious package has been cleared and there is no threat to the community," PCSO assured everyone in a statement, as heard by FOX 10 Phoenix. The daily operations at the shopping center were able to resume, with doors reopening around 1:30 p.m.
While the investigation unfolded, only the shopping center was focused on while homes in the vicinity remained untouched by the incident. PCSO has refrained from divulging further details about the suspect. They urge anyone who might have information concerning the thin white male suspect to come forward, as he was last seen skirting the area where the supposed bomb was dropped off, prompting a widespread evacuation as a precaution. Any tips must be communicated to PSCO at 520-866-5111.
