Lakeland police make arrest in suspicious box at gas station

LAKELAND (FOX 13) - A suspicious box found at a gas station Saturday morning forced Lakeland Police to evacuate several businesses in the area of 3437 N Road 98, including a La Quinta hotel and a Steak 'N Shake restaurant. The Tampa Bomb Squad responded and the box was later found to be safe and a person of interest was questioned.

Authorities in Lakeland now say they have arrested Luis E. Cruz in connection with the suspicious box. According to officials, Cruz admitted that the box belonged to him and that it contained his clothes. Cruz also admitted he wrote "BOMB" on the box but said he didn't know why he did it but claimed it was his imagination that made him do it.

Police say that Cruz claimed that although he has seen recent events on television, he didn't have any ill feelings towards law enforcement and also admitted to being a heavy drug user.

The State Attorney's Office was briefed on the case and based on circumstances, determined that no charges should be filed at this time.  Cruz was transported to the county jail on a Violation of Probation warrant.