LAKE WORTH, Texas — Two bags of potentially explosive devices, including propane tanks, electrical wiring and pressure cookers, were found in separate locations in Lake Worth on Thursday after a threat suspect was reported at a Walmart, officials said.
No one was injured, the man was taken into custody and the devices were safely "mitigated," police Chief J.T. Manoushagian said.
The man's name and any potential charges he faces have not been released yet.
The incident unfolded over several hours Thursday, starting around 9:40 a.m., when police got a call about someone entering a Walmart off Lake Worth Boulevard with weapons. Police later learned a man was seen with two large backpacks that took up a whole shopping cart, Manoushagian said.
The building was evacuated and police began working to find the suspect, who had also sent threatening messages to his parole officer, Manoushagian said.
The messages, according to Manoushagian, included: "I have things stashed everywhere," "Cops play with my word," "When I say planned, I mean everything."
Dispatchers were able to ping the man's phone and see that he had moved away from the Walmart. While officers were looking for him, they found the first suspicious bag in front of the Richie Brothers Auctioneers building, which is located near Azle Avenue and Northwest Loop 820 in Lake Worth.
A short time later, the man was located nearby and detained. Then, about an hour after the first bag was found, a second suspicious bag was located in the 3900 block of Boat Club Road in Lake Worth, police said.
Fort Worth Fire Department crews responded to help investigate the bags, both of them large backpacks, with robots, which helped safely inspect what was in the bags.
Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Craig Trojacek said the bag include items such as propane tanks, electric wiring and pressure cookers.
Manoushagian said the backpack had what appeared to be "explosive contents" that "certainly indicated the potential to explode and cause harm."
The crews safely "mitigated" the device, Manoushagian said.
"What's concerning isn't the items in his possession but the threats he made," Manoushagian said. "That's why we took this as seriously as we did."
Part of the response involved shutting down lanes of Northwest Loop 820, as officers wanted to protect anyone within 200 yards of the suspicious bags.
The highway lanes and ramps were fully reopened by 2:20 p.m.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.