Florida Man Arrested for Threatening MacDill Air Force Base After Suspicious Package

A 35-year-old Palm Harbor, Florida resident faces federal charges for making threatening phone calls to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. The calls came two days after authorities discovered a suspicious package containing possible explosive materials outside the base.

Federal authorities have arrested a Palm Harbor, Florida resident on charges of making threatening phone calls to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, following the discovery of a suspicious package at the military installation.

The 35-year-old suspect faces federal charges after allegedly placing threatening calls to the base on March 18, according to court documents filed in Tampa’s federal courthouse. His arrest occurred on Monday.

Court records indicate the individual contacted MacDill Air Force Base twice during the morning hours of March 18, delivering threatening messages to personnel who answered the calls. The threats appeared connected to a suspicious package discovered on March 16 outside one of the base’s gates. Base officials responded by implementing a complete lockdown and issuing shelter-in-place orders that remained in effect for several hours.

Federal investigators tracked down the suspect by tracing his phone number, collecting cellular tower data, and verifying his whereabouts in the days before the threatening calls were made, according to the criminal complaint.

The court filing reveals the man has previously made similar threatening communications. Following questioning by authorities, he was transported to a mental health facility under Florida’s Baker Act provisions, which permit involuntary psychiatric holds for up to 72 hours.

The FBI announced Friday that laboratory analysis revealed the suspicious package contained materials that could potentially be used as explosives. Additional testing of the package continues.

MacDill Air Force Base serves as headquarters for U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations across the Middle East, Central Asia, and portions of South Asia. The installation has maintained elevated security measures since the outbreak of conflict in Iran.