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Neighbors want more answers after a suspicious device was found close to homes

Posted at 11:35 PM, Sep 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-19 23:35:18-04

A Pasco County Sheriff's detective will meet with residents, who live near the location where a suspicious package was found, to tell them more details about the device and more information about why they handled the situation the way they did.

According to the sheriff's office, the meeting has not been scheduled yet, but it will happen soon.

On Sept. 7, someone saw a suspicious device near the intersection of Collier Parkway and Roderick Drive. Neighbors said the package was found near a call box. Several agencies responded, including several federal agencies. They worked for 6 hours to carefully remove it. Initially, the sheriff's office released information about the suspicious package, stating it was homemade and it could detonate.

Then last week, they released more information, calling it a destructive device with mortar shells inside of it that could hurt someone if it went off. They said the ATF classified it a firework.

"I appreciate the fact that they took the precautions that they took that's very comforting to know that they took those measures. However, the lack of information that was provided to us is somewhat disconcerting. You like to know what's going on in your neighborhood," Kathleen Frangos said.

Frangos could not get back to her home for several house that day, as authorities investigated.

ABC Action News learned more tests need to be completed on the device, once it dries.

Deputies think the person who built it, isn't familiar with explosives.

A $3,000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to an arrest.

According to the sheriff's office, they handed this case like they would any similar situation and tried to put out as much information as possible, handling it cautiously.

People, who live in the area, want to know more about what happened.

"It would be really nice to know who and why? Why choose this community? Why choose this little area," Frangos said.