Inactive explosive device found in Bratt, Fla.

WALNUT HILL, Fla. (WALA) - Escambia County deputies said a man found what appears to be a possible mine, or explosive device, near his home.

Deputies responded on Sunday, October 7 to a residence on the 3800 block of Hall Road where they said the man found the device.

Gary Gibson, 44, moved into his home in Bratt, Florida years ago.

Recently, he’s been trying to fix up the area, and he said he’s no stranger to finding random objects nearby.

But what he found Sunday afternoon blew him away.

“It scared me. You have a cup of coffee in your hand and you find a bomb. It’s the first thing you don’t want to see in the morning,” said Gibson. 

Gibson says he was walking the edge of his property when he saw a strange box by his fence.

“I picked it up and found out it was an old Army ammo box. I was curious to see what was in there. I couldn’t get the top open, so I took it inside my shop,” Gibson said. 

Inside the shop, Gibson said he used a hammer to break the box open.

That’s when he found what authorities are calling a military explosive device. 

“It was just like a little square box and it fit in the ammo box perfect. It was an Army green color and on the front it said, "Front toward enemy.” So that was the first sign to get out of there,” said Gibson.

Gibson said he immediately left his shed and went to his home. Once inside, he says he quickly called 911 and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded within minutes.

Deputies as well as the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Bomb Squad showed up on scene and seized the device.

Gibson says officials told him the device was inactive but still dangerous.

“From now on if I find something like that I’ll be cautious when opening it up and I especially won't beat on it with a hammer," Gibson said.

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office and the State Fire Marshal's Office said they won't release any more information until the device is further investigated.