Lockdown lifted at Union County Sheriff’s Office after man attempted to surrender grenade

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UNION COUNTY, N.C. — The Union County Sheriff’s Office lifted a lockdown at its administration building overnight Thursday.

A resident attempting to surrender a grenade prompted the lockdown around 11 p.m., according to the sheriff’s office.

They learned there was no threat after an explosive ordnance team with the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office investigated and discovered the grenade had been decommissioned. At one point in its lifetime, police say it had been a live grenade.

According to UCSO, the man who brought the grenade had no ill intent. Police say he found it while cleaning out the bedroom of a family member who had recently passed away and wanted to get rid of it.

When he brought it to the precinct late Thursday night, both he and the deputies there believed it to be live, which initiated the lockdown and investigation.

“At this point, there are no criminal charges or any reason to believe that he had any ill intent on bringing this up here. He just wanted to get rid of it and thought we could have taken off his hands immediately, and [that’s] just not the case,” Lt. James Maye told Channel 9.

We’ll have more throughout the morning on the advice deputies have for people looking to get rid of dangerous objects they find.

Check wsoctv.com for updates.

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