Bomb Squad Investigates Suspicious Suitcases

The Holiday Inn in Port St. Lucie was evacuated Thursday night as the St. Lucie bomb squad investigated suspicious suitcases a guest had brought there.

While information was sketchy, officials said the guest, possibly in his 50s, checked into the hotel at the northeast corner of U.S. 1 and Jennings Road about 5 p.m. A few minutes later, the guest called 911 to say he had respiratory problems, possibly radiation poisoning.

The guest was taken to St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie to be checked out.

An initial sweep of the guest’s black, briefcase-type bag indicated there could be something there, although officials said a second sweep cleared both the bag and the man of any radiation. Because of the conflicting information, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad was called into check out the bag.

The bomb squad’s robotic device was seen carrying something from the hotel. Shortly after 9 p.m., officials said the bomb squad was going back in for a second bag.

At 10 p.m., the bomb squad blew up one of the bags; officials did not say what they were going to do with the second bag. Officials later said one of the bags contained a cell phone charger and papers.

A Hazmat team from St. Lucie County Fire Division was brought in to clean up the room after th

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