Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Judicial Operations Bureau
Patrol Operations Bureau
Support Services Bureau
-Crime Scene Investigation Unit
Investigative Operations Bureau

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad

What:
Deputies are investigating the nature of suspicious items that were located outside the Pinellas County Justice Center located at 14250 49th Street North in Clearwater. 

When:
The items were located at about 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2016.

Where:
The items were located just outside of the Pinellas County Justice Center on the south side of the building.

Why/How:
According to investigators, a County maintenance worker located a suspicious item this morning outside the Pinellas County Justice Center, and reported it to deputies.

Deputies responded and located two additional suspicious items/devices outside on the south side of the building.

Deputies immediately established a perimeter to secure the devices and the area. No evacuation were necessary.

The Hillsborough County Bomb Squad was requested to assist in the investigation; and detonated the devices on site.

The Sheriff's Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit has collected the remaining pieces for processing.

According to investigators, while deputies were investigating the suspicious items, a call was received by the Pinellas County 911 Center from a person stating that two individuals were headed to the Justice Center to "shoot up" the Courthouse.

Investigators are following leads and continuing to investigate the matter. However, at this time, investigators say the call and the devices appears to be part of a hoax.

Other than having to temporarily clear areas of the parking lot while the devices were removed, it was business as usual for the staff and the public at the Justice Center.

The investigation continues.