A live hand grenade was discovered inside a donation bin at a Goodwill store in Palatka, Florida, prompting an immediate evacuation and a remote detonation by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad.
The incident occurred in a city about 50 miles south of Jacksonville.
Police secured the scene as soon as the device was found.
Discovery and Immediate Response
The device was located in a donation bin near the donation door, according to a Goodwill spokesperson.
Liz Morgan told First Coast News that the grenade had been donated.
She said the employee who found it was working near the donation area.
The Goodwill store was evacuated immediately after the discovery.
Police secured the scene to prevent any accidental detonation.
The presence of a live hand grenade required immediate action.
The Goodwill store is in Palatka, Florida, a city about 50 miles south of Jacksonville.
Police secured the scene.
Evacuation and Safety Measures
The evacuation of the Goodwill store was carried out by Palatka Police Department officers.
All patrons and employees were instructed to leave the premises.
The exit routes were monitored to ensure a safe egress.
Police secured the perimeter around the store to maintain a safe zone.
The area was cordoned off to prevent unauthorized access.
This step was taken to protect the public from any potential explosion.
Bomb Squad Retrieval and Detonation
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad was called to the scene after the Goodwill store was secured.
The bomb squad retrieved the live hand grenade from the donation bin.
They used specialized equipment to handle the device safely.
The bomb squad handled the device with specialized equipment.
The device was detonated remotely to eliminate the threat.
Goodwill’s History with Grenades
This is not the first time a weapon has been found at a Goodwill store in Florida.
In 2018, several grenades were discovered after being donated to a Goodwill store on Jacksonville’s Southside.
Liz Morgan reported the 2018 incident.
Police Advisory to the Public
The Palatka Police Department issued a statement after the incident.
The statement read, \”We want to remind the community to thoroughly check all items before donating, ensuring that hazardous items, such as explosives, firearms, or ammunition, are not accidentally included.\”
The statement added, \”If you ever locate something that appears to be a hand grenade or other explosive device, do not touch or handle it.\”
The police urged caution in handling suspicious objects.
The final part of the statement advised, \”Immediately evacuate the area and call law enforcement.\”
The police emphasized that the public should not attempt to move or dispose of potential explosives.
Key Takeaways
- A live hand grenade was found in a donation bin at a Goodwill store in Palatka, Florida.
- The device was safely retrieved and detonated remotely by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad.
- The Palatka Police Department warned the community to check donated items and to avoid handling suspicious objects.
The Goodwill store in Palatka, Florida, remains closed until the area is cleared.
