The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office gave the all clear Sunday for Destin Commons to reopen after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the popular shopping center earlier in the day.
- Deputies responded to a threat called into the AMC movie theater, prompting a full evacuation of the immediate area. An explosives detection dog and other specialized units swept what officials described as a significantly sized area before determining it was safe.
The theater will remain closed, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The evacuation also forced the cancellation of the Mac & Cheese Festival, hosted by the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast, which was underway at Destin Commons at the time. Festival organizers said attendees and staff were evacuated at the direction of the Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement officials said several jurisdictions across Florida received similar bomb threats Sunday. Investigations are ongoing.
The Sheriff’s Office asked the public to avoid the area during the response, noting traffic was backing up on surrounding roads. Deputies enacted protocols required for the situation throughout the incident.
“Public safety must always come first,” the agency said in one of several updates posted to social media throughout the afternoon.
