Live Hand Grenade Discovered In Sonora Basement

Sonora, CA — Imagine the surprise Katie Smith experienced when she discovered a live World War II vintage hand grenade in the basement of her great grandmother´s Oak Street home Friday afternoon.

Smith immediately contacted the Sonora Police Department who in turn called in the Calaveras County Sheriff´s Department Bomb Squad. Once x-rayed, the bomb squad realized the grenade was indeed live. The pineapple shaped grenade was removed from the premises and destroyed. The origin of the hand grenade is unknown.

Also found in the basement were live rounds of WWII vintage ammunition including some 20mm cannon rounds.

Lt. Mark Stinson says that housing such weapons is a federal offense but this family will not be prosecuted because Katie Smith, of her own volition, reported the weapons to the police.

Written by Bill Johnson