The tax collector’s office in Dade City has reopened Friday after a backpack left behind at the office prompted a call to the bomb squad unit.
Dade City police were called to 14236 Sixth St., Friday morning to check on a suspicious backpack, according to tax collector spokesman Greg Giordano. County tax collector Mike Fasano quickly decided to close the office while law enforcement dealt with the backpack as a safety precaution.
Just after noontime, Fasano released a statement that the Dade City office would be closed the rest of the day because of an “ongoing law enforcement situation,” but would reopened for business at 9 a.m. Saturday “assuming all is well.” He directed those who needed tax collector services to visit other area offices, including one in Land O’ Lakes.
However, Fasano reversed course 15 minutes later after police found the backpack wasn’t dangerous, and had been safely contained.
Law enforcement had evacuated a portion of the building, but has since returned to business as usual, Giordano said.
