A routine traffic stop in Florida escalated into a significant security incident after a man claimed to be in possession of a 'dirty bomb', prompting a large-scale emergency response and road closures.
Traffic Stop Uncovers Arsenal and Radioactive Claim
On Saturday 6 December 2025, officers from the Haines City Police Department pulled over a Chevrolet Silverado believed to be connected to a crash near a Publix supermarket on Highway 27 in Davenport. The driver, 43-year-old Benjamin Johnson, reportedly refused to exit his vehicle, forcing police to remove him.
Inside the truck, authorities discovered an alarming array of items, including multiple firearms, ammunition, speed loaders, thermal scopes, knives, a battering ram, and night-vision goggles. They also found cannabis and THC-infused gummies.
Multi-Agency Response to 'Dirty Bomb' Threat
The situation intensified dramatically while Johnson was detained in a patrol car. He allegedly informed officers about the presence of a 'dirty bomb' in his vehicle. Police then located a yellow plastic container secured with chains and padlocks, bearing a radioactive warning label.
This discovery triggered an immediate and serious response. Officers secured the entire area, closed nearby roads, and called in the Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives. A Florida State Fire investigator confirmed the container was emitting radioactivity before the specialised bomb squad even arrived on the scene.
Hoax Revealed and Charges Filed
Bomb technicians eventually determined the suspicious container held a 'Moisture Density Gauge'. This is a common soil-testing device used in construction, which authorities stated possesses less radioactivity than a standard medical X-ray.
As a result, Benjamin Johnson now faces a series of criminal charges. These include:
- Possession of a hoax weapon of mass destruction.
- Filing a false report concerning a bomb or explosive.
- Unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
- Resisting officers without violence.
Police noted that Johnson had a prior arrest in Tennessee for marijuana possession. He told authorities he had been living in the vehicle with his dog, which was subsequently released to Animal Control.
Ongoing Investigations and Aftermath
The yellow container was taken for further inspection by the Florida Bureau of Radioactive Materials. All the weapons seized from the truck also remain under investigation.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of making false threats involving weapons of mass destruction, which waste critical emergency resources and cause significant public disruption.
