The following is a press release from the St. Louis Police Department:

On Thursday, August 25, 2022, at approximately 1 pm, A 69-year-old male from Holt, MI was cleaning
the basement of a relative’s home just north of the St. Louis City limits when they found a hand grenade
in the basement. The man brought the hand grenade to the St. Louis Police Department assuming the
police department would be able to dispose of the grenade.

Ofc. Morell of the St. Louis Police Department was outside of the St. Louis City Hall prepping for the
arrival of the Old 27 Auto Tour. The Holt resident approached Ofc. Morell and told Ofc. Morell, he had
found the grenade. The grenade was immediately secured in a safe area near the St. Louis Electric
Department.

As a safety precaution, the St. Louis City pool was closed, and the area was roped off and secured by
police officers. The St. Louis Electric Department building was evacuated, and the interior of the St.
Louis City Hall was closed to the public.

The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad was notified by Gratiot County Central Dispatch and responded
to the scene. The St. Louis Area Fire Department was notified, and MMR was put on standby.
The bomb squad technicians confirmed this was a live training grenade from 1920/1930’s era that could
harm a person(s) if detonated. The bomb squad secured and removed the grenade from the area and
will be disposing of it at an undisclosed location.

This is not the first time a live grenade has been brought to the St. Louis Police Department. Just over a
decade ago, an elderly lady was taking care of her deceased husband’s belongings. Among his
belongings, she found a World War II-era hand grenade. She also brought this grenade to the St. Louis
Police Department assuming we could dispose of it. The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad also assisted
in disposing of that grenade as well.