NEW PORT RICHEY, Florida - Police say an apparent pipe bomb found over the weekend was indeed a legitimate, destructive device.
The device was found outside a home along the 5800 block of Pine Street on Friday. It has since been disabled and is no longer a threat.
Investigators are still searching for the man they believe is responsible for it, 24-year-old Harlin Miller Jr.
According to New Port Richey Police, it all started when his mother called them about a warrant on Miller. Authorities said he left the house before they could take him in and after a 45 minute search, they returned to tell his mother they couldn't find him.
That's when she told them she found some type of device and put it outside the house. When police looked at it, they said it appeared destructive.
The Tampa Police Bomb Squad was called in, along with an ATF and FBI Task Force Agent. Authorities used a robot to separate the device to find out exactly what it was. Police taped off the area for blocks and evacuated a total of five homes and apartment buildings.
"I was very scared. I got two little kids. So knowing that my kids could be in danger, I was very, very scared," said neighbor, Rad Mila.
Police are not sure if Miller somehow got the device or if he made it himself.