The Lakeland Police Department was temporarily closed, and nearby streets were detoured after a resident walked into the lobby carrying a live hand grenade in a box.
Key Details of the Incident:
- The Discovery: A resident was cleaning out a family member’s personal effects when they uncovered a box containing what looked like an old hand grenade. Intending to do the right thing, the person loaded the box into their car and drove it straight to the police station at N. Massachusetts Ave.
- The Response: Officers immediately evacuated and secured the police station, established a safety perimeter around the building, and set up traffic detours on surrounding streets.
- The Bomb Squad: The Tampa Police Department Bomb Squad was called in to assess and handle the device. They confirmed it was a live hand grenade—believed to be from the Korean War era—and safely removed and disposed of it without incident.
- Reopening: The police station and surrounding roadways were fully reopened shortly before 4:30 p.m.
The police department posted a friendly public reminder following the event: if you ever come across military ordnance, explosives, or suspicious devices while cleaning out a relative’s house, do not move or transport it yourself. Leave it where it is and call law enforcement so the bomb squad can come handle it on-site.
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