Oceanway homes evacuated due to 'suspicious device'

7 to 10 homes evacuated as Jacksonville Sheriff's Office bomb squad responds

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Up to 10 homes in an Oceanway neighborhood were evacuated for about two hours as the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office bomb squad "rendered safe" a suspicious device reported to police early Wednesday morning.

Someone reported finding the device in the 3200 block of Shadow Creek Drive just after 6:30 a.m.

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"A citizen told us they hadn't seen this particular device the day before. Another neighbor says it has been there since Friday," JSO Lt. Jimmy Ricks said.

Police said seven to 10 houses in the immediate area were evacuated and another 10-12 were warned but the residents chose to say in their homes.

Several children were not able to get out to school because of the road closures, and the School Board was notified that they would be late to school and accommodations would be made for the FCAT testing.

Ricks would not describe the device and would only say it was found near a pond surrounded by homes.    About 9:15 a.m., police said the bomb squad determined the object did not contain any explosives.