The bomb squads of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and Baton Rouge Police Department securely detonated a World War II-era pineapple grenade off of Highland Road Wednesday after a man discovered it in the dirt he was placing around his yard.
Casey Rayborn Hicks, EBRSO spokeswoman, said the grenade was discovered in the dirt being used in the yard early in the afternoon and officers were dispatched.
Hicks said upon investigation the bomb squads determined the grenade was live and transferred it to a detonation site on the property.
Dirt was pilled around the grenade, and it was detonated by EBRSO’s bomb squad robot in a controlled explosion, Hicks said.
She said the explosion could have seriously injured someone or caused property damage had it gone off, but the controlled explosion was relatively small and did not cause any damage.
During the controlled detonation Highland Road between Siegen Lane and Amos Road was closed in both directions for about 20 minutes, she said.
Hicks said possession of the grenade is illegal, but its appearance in the dirt is likely accidental.
EBRSO is currently investigating the origin of the grenade, she said.
Grenade found, detonated by police on Highland Road
October 9, 2013