Suspicious device found in Tiffin home prompts police response

Tiffin, Ohio — The Tiffin Police Department responded to a residence on Elm Avenue Thursday afternoon at approximately 4:30 p.m. following the discovery of a suspicious device by a resident.

According to Tiffin PD, the individual came across what appeared to be a hand grenade or a replica of one while cleaning and sorting through old boxes in the basement.

The device, reminiscent of the historic “Pineapple” grenades (MK2) commonly used by the United States military during World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War, raised concerns about its potential danger. According to authorities, the basement area where the device was found had not been explored or cleaned for around four decades.

As a precautionary measure, police swiftly isolated the area and evacuated the resident who made the discovery. They also established a safety perimeter between the device and nearby residences. Recognizing the need for specialized expertise, the Toledo Police Bomb Squad was summoned to the scene to assist with the safe handling and removal of the device.

The Toledo Police Bomb Squad arrived promptly and skillfully secured and removed the device without incident. At the time of removal, the Tiffin Police Department did not have information regarding whether the device was live or harmless.

Tiffin Police Chief David Pauly expressed gratitude to the Toledo Police for their prompt response and support in handling the situation safely. There have been no reports of injuries or damage in connection with the incident.