Man Brings Grenade To Police Department (Video)

A Sarasota man who brought a grenade to the prompted an evacuation Thursday afternoon, but no foul play was suspected. 

"Somebody threw a bag in his yard and found a live grenade in it," said. Capt. Wade McVay.

Jeffrey Reams of the 2400 block of Prospect St., brought the grenade to the police department, prompting the activation of the bomb squad.

Officers established a perimeter through Payne Park and around the department's headquarters downtown shortly after 3 p.m. and called in the bomb squad to investigate.

It turns out that it was judgment call Reams, who wanted to keep his kids safe from the grenade he found.

Instead of calling the police department, the man brought the grenade, with the pin still in it, McVay said.

"Thank God the lieutenant was passing by him because he was about to bring it in to the front desk," McVay said.

Police had the man keep it on the hood of his maroon Jeep Cherokee.

The police's bomb retrieval robot then came out to the Cherokee and safely removed and examined the grenade. A specialist then came out in a protective suit, burying the grenade before it was detonated.

If someone should find a live grenade in their yard, folks should call 911 and leave it where it is, McVay said. The police would then evacuate about 300 to 400 feet around the home, he said.