The Kern County Sheriff Department reports:

On Tuesday January 5, 2010 at about 7:30 A.M. the Kern County Sheriff's Office, along with Kern County Fire Department, responded to the W.H. Thomas Terminal at the Meadows Field Airport regarding a suspicious bag. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported that a checked bag set off an alarm while passing through a screening machine. Upon further examination of the bag, TSA located five suspicious bottles containing an unknown liquid. The inside of the bag and the outside of one of the bottles tested presumptive positive for chemicals associated with explosive material. Upon opening one of the bottles, two TSA employees complained of a chemical odor and nausea. They were transported, examined and later released from a local hospital.

The terminal was evacuated, and the owner of the checked bag was identified as Francisco Ramirez, a 31 year old Hispanic male, from Milwaukee.  Ramirez was detained and cooperated with Sheriff’s Detectives during the investigation. Ramirez said he was in Bakersfield visiting relatives and was currently on his way back to Milwaukee.  Ramirez said the bottles contained honey he obtained during his visit.

Kern County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad personnel, along with Kern County Fire Department Hazmat Team determined the bag was safe to be moved and it was transported to a Sheriff’s Office facility for further testing.

The Kern County Sheriff's Office, with assistance of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office Hazmat Division conducted further laboratory testing of the contents of the bag. None of the items inside the bag contained explosive or hazardous material and the liquid inside the five bottles was identified as honey. The bag was tested and no explosive or hazardous material residue was located.

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Ramirez is a legal permanent resident of the United States. Ramirez was not charged with any criminal violation and he is no longer being detained.