Hearse In Palmetto Expwy Bomb Scare Had Fake Weapons, Police Say

MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4)-- Miami Gardens police said the hearse in the bomb scare that snarled traffic for hours on the Palmetto Expressway Friday had fake weapons inside.

Police chief Matthew Boyd told CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald Saturday that the abandoned hearse was filled with a fake arsenal of automatic weapons, ammunition and rocket launcher. Boyd said "they were good replicas."

One item, also possibly fake, was turned over to federal authorities. No explosives were found.

There were no explosives inside the vehicle, the chief said.

The man who police wanted to question in connection with the incident is in police custody.

Lee E. Lewis,28, was in custody as of Saturday just before 12:30 p.m. Police said Friday that he was last seen leaving a parked hearse believed to be carrying a suspicious package.

Officers reported seeing firearms and other weapons inside the hearse, calling in the bomb squad.

Miami Gardens Police said they have charged Lewis with possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance (meth) and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use. Lewis was also driving with a suspended license, with his knowledge, according to the police report.

His bond for all charges totaled $15,000.

Lewis was considered armed and dangerous and known to frequent the Hollywood area, according to police.

The Palmetto Expressway in Miami-Dade was shutdown in both directions from NW 17^th to 37^th Avenues for six hours Friday afternoon and into the evening as police investigated the possible bomb threat.

The unoccupied silver hearse registered to Lewis was parked under an overpass at 27^th Avenue.

According to the Herald, witnesses later told police they had seen a tattooed man matching Lewis' description exit the hearse, check under the hood and walk away.

The parked hearse triggered the closure of the expressway.

Xiomara Lorenzo said an officer approached her while she was working at a nearby gas station and said, "Get out you have to leave right now."  She added, "they were hurrying me up to close down and leave the site so it was a little bit nervous."

Police used a bomb squad robot to inspect the car and pull out several bags.

All lanes on the expressway re-opened.

The car was removed at around midnight Saturday.

Lewis is a fire performer, according to a Miami club flier.

He recently served a year and a half in a Miami-Dade prison on grand theft and drug charges. He was released in 2008, according to the Herald.

In:
• Palmetto Expressway
• Bomb Threat