Hand Grenade Dropped Off At Goodwill Donation Box: Police

NEW LENOX, IL — New Lenox police responded to a "suspicious package" at approximately 1:15 p.m. Saturday at the Goodwill in New Lenox, 441 E. Lincoln Highway. The item turned out to be a hand grenade, according to New Lenox Police Deputy Chief Micah Nuesse.

An employee found the hand grenade in the Goodwill donation box, Nuesse said. Cook County Bomb Squad was called in, and they determined the grenade was not live, Nuesse said. Police determined there was no threat to the public and gave the all-clear for the area at approximately 3:15 p.m., Nuesse said

The Cook County Bomb Squad took possession of the grenade, Nuesse said. NLPD is currently investigating the origin of the donation.

An eyewitness at the scene told Patch that an announcement was made over the loudspeaker at Goodwill asking all customers and employees to "evacuate for safety reasons." The eyewitness described seeing a large presence of emergency vehicles on the scene, but the activity appeared to be centered on only the Goodwill store.