HAINES CITY, FL — A late-night crash outside a Davenport Publix turned into a large emergency response Friday after the driver involved claimed he had a “dirty bomb” inside his truck, according to Haines City police.
Officers were called around 10 p.m. on December 5, 2025, to the Publix at 39883 Hwy 27 after reports of a vehicle crash involving a silver Chevrolet Silverado. When officers arrived, they found the driver, 43-year-old Benjamin Donald Johnson, still inside the truck. Police say Johnson ignored repeated commands to get out and ultimately had to be physically removed. Multiple firearms were visible inside the vehicle.
While Johnson was detained in the back of a patrol car, an officer overheard him mention a “dirty bomb” in the truck. Officers searched the vehicle and found a yellow plastic container locked with chains and marked with a radioactive symbol. The immediate area was shut down, traffic was diverted and units moved to a safe distance while specialized teams were called in.
Before the bomb squad arrived, a Florida State Fire Investigator inspected the container and confirmed it was emitting measurable radioactivity. Representatives from FDLE, ATF and an FBI bomb technician assisted with the investigation. Officials later identified the device inside the container as a Moisture Density Gauge, a tool used in soil testing that contains low-level radioactive material. Authorities emphasized that the radioactivity was less than what you would be exposed to during a medical x-ray.
The device was taken to the Haines City Police Department for further examination by the Florida Bureau of Radioactive Material.
A full search of Johnson’s truck uncovered a large collection of weapons and gear, including multiple firearms, ammunition, speed loaders, thermal scopes, knives, night-vision goggles, and a battering ram. Officers also found cannabis and THC-positive gummies.
During questioning, Johnson told investigators he was in the area for work and had been living in his truck with his dog. Animal Control took custody of the dog safely.
Johnson was booked into the Polk County Jail on several charges:
• Hoax Weapon of Mass Destruction
• False Report Concerning a Bomb or Explosive
• Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance
• Resisting Officers Without Violence
Police said Johnson has a previous arrest in Tennessee for marijuana possession.
Roadways around the Publix were closed for several hours Friday night out of caution while authorities secured the scene and examined the device.
The investigation into the weapons found in the vehicle is still ongoing.
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