Residents in Belle Isle experienced a jolt of unease yesterday when a suspected explosive device was unearthed in a suburban backyard. According to ClickOrlando, Belle Isle police received reports around 10:45 a.m. of "what appears to be a mortar" located off Waltham Avenue. The Orange County Sheriff's Office Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team was promptly deployed to the site to thoroughly assess and to quickly neutralize the situation.
Nearby Cornerstone Charter Academy found itself caught in the incident's ripples, initially placing students on a "soft lockdown, shelter in place" as a precautionary measure. As the situation unfolded, the school's officials opted to move students indoors. "There is no immediate threat to residents or students," police reassured in a statement, highlighted in the ClickOrlando report. Ensuring safety, the EOD team carefully transported the mortar to an OCSO facility where it was "rendered safe."
Additional details from WESH emphasized that the device, described as a small bomb, warranted the intervention of the bomb squad following its discovery. Belle Isle police had alerted the OCSO, which led to the EOD team's response. The incident prompted the school to move students inside "out of an abundance of caution," underscoring the imminent concern for student safety amidst potential risks.
After confirming the device as a mortar, the bomb unit successfully took control, ensuring that any threat was contained and subsequently neutralized at the OCSO facility.
