WEST VERO CORRIDOR — A cleaning crew found a device resembling a grenade while scrubbing down a condominium unit, prompting the response of a bomb squad and the evacuation of nearby residents, officials said. There were no injuries reported in the incident.
Sheriff’s officials said the device had a blue handle and a hole drilled in the bottom, similar to replicas of grenades.
The workers – two men and one woman – discovered the device about 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Vista Plantation Condominium complex, located just north of State Road 60 and west of the Indian River Mall. The woman then called 911, reports show.
Dispatchers informed the workers to wait outside and not re-enter the building, sheriff’s officials said. Several agencies, including the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad Unit, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office and Indian River County Fire Rescue, responded to the scene.
Indian River deputies and fire rescue crews evacuated nearby units, said David Rattray, deputy chief with Indian River County Fire Rescue. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad Unit went to the complex and retrieved the device shortly before 4 p.m., reports show.
First responders lifted the evacuation after the bomb squad removed the item, Rattray said. No further details were immediately available.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
