Worker Drives Donated Grenade to Local Police Station

East Ridge, Tennessee In a concerning breach of standard UXO safety protocols, an employee at a local Goodwill discovered a grenade in a donation pile and subsequently drove the explosive device to a nearby police station.

The incident occurred at the Goodwill facility on Ringgold Road. While processing recent donations, the employee located the munition. Rather than leaving the item untouched, clearing the immediate area, and calling 911, the individual placed the hazard in their vehicle and transported it directly to the East Ridge Fire and Police Department.

Upon arrival, authorities immediately isolated the object and requested the assistance of the Chattanooga Police Department's bomb squad. The bomb squad responded to the station, confirmed the item was a grenade, and safely transported it to a specialized range where it was destroyed via a counter-charge. Although no injuries were reported, the incident serves as a stark reminder to never handle or transport suspected explosives.