Downtown Auburndale is partially locked down after police discovered a contained suspicious device near Orange Street, and officers are now working to remove it safely. The department has described the scene as active, with a heavy law enforcement presence surrounding the downtown square. People in several nearby blocks have been urged to leave voluntarily while crews secure the area, and authorities say the situation remains fluid, asking the public to steer clear and let them work.
Police said the device is contained and that specialized teams are working to remove it safely, according to Tampa Bay 28. The outlet reported that the department pushed out a public advisory on social media late Thursday morning, and that officers established a perimeter near Orange Street while technicians prepared to deal with the item.
Evacuation zone and guidance
Officials asked people within a highlighted green zone, including Union Street, Ariana Avenue, Bobby Green Plaza, Main Street and Bridgers Avenue, to evacuate voluntarily while the device is handled. In its Facebook update, the department urged residents to avoid the area and not interfere with operations, and specifically asked people not to call the police department about the situation so emergency lines do not get jammed, according to the Auburndale Police Department. Police said a significant law enforcement presence will remain in place until crews give the all clear.
How to reach officials
The City of Auburndale lists the police station at 2 Bobby Green Plaza, along with a non-emergency administrative phone line, and officials have reiterated that 911 should be reserved for true emergencies. According to the city’s contact page, the department's administrative number is (863) 965-5555. Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to reach out through official channels rather than tying up emergency lines.
Local context
The current response recalls a 2015 incident in Auburndale when a regional bomb squad destroyed dozens of sticks of dynamite that had been found in the city, a case that underscored why authorities treat suspicious devices as serious business, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Bomb squad deployments and precautionary evacuations have occurred in Polk County before, and local officials have stressed that they prefer to assume an unknown device is dangerous until it is cleared.
The situation remained under investigation Thursday afternoon. Tampa Bay 28 reported that the story is still developing and said it will provide updates as more details emerge. Authorities have said they will release additional information once the device is secured and the area is considered safe.
