Man In Florida Arrested In Connection With Mail Bombs
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MIAMI (CBS/AP) -- A man in Florida is under arrest in connection with the 13 suspicious packages sent to top Democrats around the country, a Justice Department official said Friday. He has been identified as 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc.
Earlier Friday, authorities said suspicious packages addressed to New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and former National Intelligence Director James Clapper — both similar to those containing pipe bombs sent to other prominent critics of President Donald Trump— had been intercepted.
All clear at @CoryBooker's Office in Camden, NJ after suspected mail bomb addressed here was intercepted in Florida. @CamdenCountyPD Chief Scott Thomson says his bomb squad worked with federal agents to sweep the building and did not find anything suspicious. pic.twitter.com/bQCpo3JS32
— Cleve Bryan (@CleveBryan) October 26, 2018
Chopper 3 flew over Booker's office in Camden while federal agents did a sweep of the building, Friday morning. Authorities did not find anything suspicious.
The package sent to Booker was found in Florida, the FBI said on Twitter on Friday morning. Sources told CBS News that the package sent to Clapper was found at a postal facility in New York City.
The #FBI has confirmed an 11th package has been recovered in Florida, similar in appearance to the others, addressed to Sen. Cory Booker.
— FBI (@FBI) October 26, 2018
Other packages have been intended for people including former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Eric Holder, philanthropist George Soros, former Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Maxine Waters.
At an auto zone in Plantation, Florida FBI agents took Sayoc into custody.
At the arrest scene, authorities towed away Sayoc's van that is covered in stickers and decals which showed his support for President Trump and contempt for his critics and the media.
Suspect in bombing scares is a 56-year-old man, a law enforcement source tells CBS News. Authorities were led to the suspect in part through DNA evidence. https://t.co/1KLWpCFhkd pic.twitter.com/XdD4Iesiqh
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 26, 2018
That was the same van that pulled up to an Hispanic heritage event in West Palm Beach on Oct. 11.
Rolando Chang Barrero is the owner of the Box Gallery where the event was held. It was the first and only time he encountered Sayoc and on that evening he posed for a photo with him.
"We had a number of political figures that were supposed to show up," said Barrero.
But because of Hurricane Michael, many couldn't make it.
Barrero tells CBS3 that Sayoc arrived as the event was ending and though only a few people remained, said he was there to meet a friend.
"He was very nice very gracious, he looked a little disheveled," said Barrero.
Sayoc does have a storied criminal history that includes theft, drug possession and a 2002 threat to bomb a Florida power company.
As for work-- for the past two months he has served as a DJ and doorman at a West Palm Beach gentleman's club.
The manager there said he was working the night before he was arrested.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)