In the pre-dawn hours just past midnight, a traffic stop initiated by the Round Rock Police Department led to an unexpected escalation and a full-blown closure of I-35, near the Swedish furniture giant, IKEA. According to a statement from the Round Rock Police Department, officers conducting the stop in the 3300 block of the northbound lanes observed what seemed to be materials resembling explosives inside the vehicle in question. Out of immediate concern for public safety, this discovery prompted officials to shut down both directions of the interstate as a precaution.
Following the procedure, the driver, carefully approached by the officers, was taken into custody without incident. Subsequently, the assumed threat diminished when it was revealed that the suspect was undergoing a mental health crisis—appropriately, specialized units including bomb squad and other emergency services were quickly on the scene, diligently working to ensure any potential danger was mitigated. As reported by the local police, the substances previously feared to be hazardous were later confirmed to be harmless.
Throughout this unexpected event, cooperation among various agencies played a pivotal role in managing the scene and minimizing the disruption to the early morning commuters. The Round Rock Police Department extended its gratitude in a public statement, expressing thanks to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Round Rock Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Austin Police Department’s Bomb Squad for their swift response and assistance…