A suspicious package found along Tarpon Avenue Saturday morning turned out to be a sandbag, officials said. 

• Suspicious device on Tarpon Ave. turned out to be sandbag
• Device found in parking lot at 309 E. Tarpon Ave. 
• Bag wrapped in gray tape with wire protruding from end

Around 8:30 a.m., a Tarpon Springs Police Officer was flagged down by a U.S. Postal mail carrier who had found what appeared to be suspicious device in a parking lot located at 309 E. Tarpon Avenue that possibly resembled an explosive device. 

Officials said the device was the approximate size of a football wrapped in gray tape with what appeared to be a wire protruding from one end of the device. 

The police department conducted evacuations of 301, 309, 313 and 315 E. Tarpon Ave. and closed E. Tarpon Ave., between Safford Avenue and Grosse Avenue, to vehicular and pedestrian traffic as a precaution. The Tampa Bomb Squad was then called out to investigate. 

Around noon, the bomb squad determined that the device contained sand and the protruding wire was fashioned into a handle to pick up and carry the object. 

Investigators believe the object was made by the previous tenant of the location. 

All of the evacuated occupants were allowed to return home shortly after noon and all roads opened back up.