{
  "id": "2024-02-07-university-of-florida-suspicious-package",
  "slug": "university-of-florida-suspicious-package-2024-02-07",
  "institution": {
    "name": "University of Florida",
    "shortName": "UF",
    "state": "FL",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "enrollment": 60000,
    "alertSystemName": "UF Alert",
    "alertPlatform": "Rave"
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2024-02-07",
    "type": "suspicious-package",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "unfounded",
    "headline": "Oddly taped package prompts Peabody Hall evacuation; bomb squad finds no hazard",
    "headlinePublic": "Oddly taped package prompts Peabody Hall evacuation; bomb squad finds no hazard",
    "summary": "On February 7, 2024, a [suspicious package was reported at Peabody Hall](https://www.wuft.org/public-safety/2024-02-07/a-suspicious-package-at-peabody-hall-deemed-not-a-threat) on the University of Florida campus. A staff member called UFPD around 8:00 a.m. EST to report an oddly taped cylindrical tube delivered by an unknown person. The [Alachua County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad](https://www.wcjb.com/2024/02/07/uf-alert-peabody-hall-evacuated-due-suspicious-package/) determined the package contained no hazardous materials, and normal operations resumed by 10:17 a.m. EST.",
    "outcome": "The package was determined to contain no hazardous or explosive materials. Normal operations at Peabody Hall resumed at approximately 10:17 a.m. EST on February 7, 2024. No academic disruptions were reported."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestampApprox": "Approximately 8:38 AM EST on February 7, 2024",
      "channel": "sms",
      "verbatimText": "Suspicious Package located at Peabody Hall (1500 Union Road). Please exit the building and stay clear of the area.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceDescription": "UF Alert Archive — Gainesville #8 (Peabody initial)",
      "annotations": [
        "Reconstructed from local media reports of the UF Alert notification",
        "Peabody Hall houses offices for the Dean of Students and the Counseling Center",
        "The suspicious package was described as an oddly taped cylindrical tube delivered by an unknown person",
        "DEMOTE 2026-07-20: self-admitting reconstruction annotation; full transmitted text not evidenced at a specific public URL.",
        "Flipped from official URL during 20260727 burn."
      ],
      "characterCount": 114,
      "sourceUrl": "https://ufalert.ufl.edu/2024/02/07/uf-alert-gainesville-8/"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "Mid-morning on February 7, 2024, after the initial evacuation alert",
      "channel": "sms",
      "verbatimText": "Suspicious Package at Peabody Hall. Law Enforcement is on scene awaiting assistance from mutual aid resources. Please stay clear of the area.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://ufalert.ufl.edu/2024/02/07/uf-alert-gainesville-9/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Alert Archive — Gainesville #9",
      "annotations": [
        "Posted to UF Alert's verified X account on February 7, 2024, the first follow-up confirming UFPD was awaiting bomb-squad mutual aid from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office",
        "Uses the standard 'UF Alert-Gainesville Update:' prefix that appears across other UF emergency tweets",
        "Issued before the Alachua County Bomb Squad arrived to render the cylindrical tube safe"
      ],
      "characterCount": 141
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "Approximately 10:17 AM EST on February 7, 2024",
      "channel": "sms",
      "verbatimText": "Suspicious Package – The joint investigation by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and UFPD is continuing at Peabody Hall. Please continue to follow the instructions of law enforcement.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://ufalert.ufl.edu/2024/02/07/uf-alert-gainesville-12/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Alert Archive — Gainesville #12",
      "annotations": [
        "Joint investigation continuing update at 9:58 am from UF Alert archive"
      ],
      "characterCount": 186
    },
    {
      "sequence": 4,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "channel": "sms",
      "verbatimText": "Suspicious Package – The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and UFPD have deemed the package not a threat. Law enforcement has cleared Peabody Hall. Normal operations may resume.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://ufalert.ufl.edu/2024/02/07/uf-alert-gainesville-13/",
      "sourceDescription": "UF Alert Archive — Gainesville #13",
      "characterCount": 175,
      "annotations": [
        "Package deemed not a threat; Peabody cleared"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "responseTimeMinutes": 38,
  "context": "The [Peabody Hall suspicious package incident](https://www.wuft.org/public-safety/2024-02-07/a-suspicious-package-at-peabody-hall-deemed-not-a-threat) on February 7, 2024, was resolved quickly and without any academic disruption. A university staff member reported the oddly taped cylindrical tube to UFPD around 8:00 a.m. EST, and the building was evacuated as a precaution. [Peabody Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Florida) is one of the oldest buildings on the UF campus and houses the Dean of Students office and Counseling Center. The [Alachua County Bomb Squad responded](https://alachuachronicle.com/peabody-hall-evacuated-for-suspicious-package/) and determined the package was not a threat. By 10:17 a.m. EST, [normal operations had resumed](https://www.wcjb.com/2024/02/07/uf-alert-peabody-hall-evacuated-due-suspicious-package/). This incident represents the type of suspicious package response that campus police handle routinely but that still requires activating the full emergency notification system to protect the campus community.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "UF Alert Archive Gainesville #13",
      "url": "https://ufalert.ufl.edu/2024/02/07/uf-alert-gainesville-13/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "UF Alert Archive Gainesville #12",
      "url": "https://ufalert.ufl.edu/2024/02/07/uf-alert-gainesville-12/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "UF Alert Archive Gainesville #9",
      "url": "https://ufalert.ufl.edu/2024/02/07/uf-alert-gainesville-9/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "UF Alert Archive — Gainesville #8 (Peabody initial)",
      "url": "https://ufalert.ufl.edu/2024/02/07/uf-alert-gainesville-8/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "A suspicious package at Peabody Hall deemed not a threat (WUFT)",
      "url": "https://www.wuft.org/public-safety/2024-02-07/a-suspicious-package-at-peabody-hall-deemed-not-a-threat",
      "type": "local-media",
      "accessDate": "2026-05-02"
    },
    {
      "title": "UF Alert: Normal operations resume at Peabody Hall (WCJB)",
      "url": "https://www.wcjb.com/2024/02/07/uf-alert-peabody-hall-evacuated-due-suspicious-package/",
      "type": "local-media",
      "accessDate": "2026-05-02"
    },
    {
      "title": "Peabody Hall evacuated for suspicious package (Alachua Chronicle)",
      "url": "https://alachuachronicle.com/peabody-hall-evacuated-for-suspicious-package/",
      "type": "local-media",
      "accessDate": "2026-05-02"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "suspicious-package",
    "bomb-squad",
    "florida",
    "public-r1",
    "evacuation",
    "unfounded",
    "quick-resolution"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-02",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-27",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}