SYRACUSE — At approximately 11:33 a.m. this morning, Monday, Sept. 19, the Syracuse Police Department responded to a report of a possible explosive device lying in the grass near the Goodwill donation box. The box is located near 203 E. Pickwick Drive.

On arrival,  the officer located a military type grenade lying in the grass. Business and home owners were alerted to the threat and ordered to stay indoors as East Pickwick Drive was blocked to all traffic. Elkhart City Bomb Squad was requested to investigate and dispose of the possible explosive device.

Elkhart City Bomb Squad utilized a robot in order to retrieve the device and place it in a containment vessel for transportation to a safe zone for destruction. The bomb squad members believe the grenade was inert but will not be certain until further investigation and destruction of the grenade.

The area was cleared and deemed safe at approximately 1:36 p.m. The origin of the grenade is still under investigation.