ONE OF TWO BOMBS EXPLODE AT RESTAURANT

CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DETECTIVES CONTINUE THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO ONE OF TWO BOMBS THAT EXPLODED IN A PORT CHARLOTTE RESTAURANT PARKING LOT.  DEPTUIES SAY THEY RECEIVED A CALL JUST BEFORE 6PM FRIDAY FROM WITNESSES AT JOE CRACKER’S ON TAMIAMI TRAIL AFTER THEY HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM A PLASTIC SODA BOTTLE THEY FOUND IN THE PARKING LOT.  A 27 YEAR OLD NORTH PORT WOMAN SAID SHE SAW THE EXPLOSION AND INHALED SOME OF THE SMOKE WHICH SHE SAID TASTED LIKE CHEMICALS.  EMS WAS CALLED IN AND SHE WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE.  WHILE DEPUTIES CHECKED THE BOTTLE THAT EXPLODED, THEY FOUND ANOTHER IN THE BUSHES NEARBY THAT HADN’T GONE OFF.  CHARLOTTE COUNTY FIRE CLEARED BOTH CONTAINERS AND TURNED THEM OVER TO DEPUTIES FOR EVIDENCE.  WITNESSES TOLD DEPUTIES THEY SAW A NEWER MODEL GOLD TOYOTA COROLLA DRIVING AROUND THE PARKING LOT THREE TIMES BEFORE BACKING INTO THE PARKING SPOT WHERE THE EXPLOSION CAME FROM.  THE INJURED WOMAN SAID THERE WERE TWO MEN IN THE CAR.  THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, AND ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL DEPUTIES AT 639-2101, OR CRIME STOPPERS AT 800-780-TIPS.