ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — Orange County deputies are trying to figure out who is behind a dangerous prank that left a neighborhood on edge for hours late Thursday night into early Friday morning.
A bomb squad and hazmat team were both called to a home off Silver Star Road near Ocoee late Thursday night, after a crate with bottles full of acid were found on the front porch. At this point, the homeowners believe the incident was some sort of prank. A series of bottles were taped together to look like some kind of chemical bomb.
Family members who lives in the home returned from the hospital early Friday morning after being checked out as a precaution.
The incident was frightening for the residents of the home and neighbors because investigators took no chances with what appeared to be some sort of acid bomb. The street was closed for hours and residents were asked to leave their homes as the bomb squad moved in to secure the chemicals.
"Who needs enemies when you have friends like that," said Tanya Hubbard, resident.
Hubbard says whoever left a bomb-like batch of chemicals on her porch should be prosecuted for what they now believe was a hoax device.
"I told her, 'don't go up there.' I mean, there's smoke coming off it. I told her there's something wrong and it might possibly blow up or something," said Cullen Leith, resident.
Leith was checked out at a local hospital after inhaling some of the fumes.
A bomb squad was called in to secure the area and check out the device with a bomb robot.
"The call described it as smoking when it first came in, so obviously that ramps us up a little, makes us think it's more of a hazard," said Lt. Vincent Van Ness, Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators still do not know what the chemicals were, but the residents believe they know who left them there
"I think it was a vengeance thing. I think they were trying to get back for some reason, a prank or something like that," said Leith.
The residents have not spoken with investigators about their suspicions, and they did not want to disclose them on camera. Investigators would like to find out who left the dangerous chemicals in front of the home, as charges could be pending.
WFTV
