Kissimmee Police shut down Broadway Friday morning after a suspicious package was discovered.
- Suspicious package discovered in Kissimmee
- Man told police he planted a bomb
- Broadway was shut down from Ruby Avenue to Neptune Road
Jacob A. Ortiz, 20, told police he placed a bomb underneath a propane tank in downtown Kissimmee.
The "bomb" was actually a suitcase.
David Morales, who owns Hatfield's Bar & Grill, said he was supposed to be serving drinks at his bar, instead he had to kick out customers.
"We had ten customers ordering lunch and I had to kick all my customers out, all my staff," he said. "Friday's our best day. This little event cost me $800 to $1,000.
Police arrested Ortiz and charged him with falsely reporting a bomb.
Police said they had no choice but to evacuate all the businesses on Broadway.
"When somebody tells you they put a bomb underneath a propane tank, you're going to take it very seriously," said Stacie Miller, public information officer for the Kissimmee Police Department.
The Orange County Bomb Squad was called to the scene to assist.
Kissimmee Police shut down Broadway after person leaves suspicious package near propane tank. (Vincent Earley, staff)
The bomb threat also caused traffic detours of up to three and a half hours.
Broadway was shut down from Ruby Avenue to Neptune Road. It has since reopened.
"It's not only me, every business has suffered through this, Morales said. "On Friday's we have nice traffic. We have tourism but everybody loses today."
After a controlled explosion, investigators determined the suitcase was not a bomb. It was filled with clothing and paperwork.
It was a tense situations but Morales said he won't let it stop him from making a living.
"Just gotta keep going forward," he said.
Law enforcement also shut down the Lynx Kissimmee Intermodal Station. All rail and bus services have since resumed.
Meanwhile, bond for Ortiz has been set at $5,000.
False reporting of a bomb is a second-degree felony in the state of Florida.