Roads in East Meadow closed as hand grenade is found

Several East Meadow area roadways were closed off for more than hour Wednesday evening as police examined a suspicious object outside the Nassau County Aquatic Center that turned out to be an inert hand grenade, officials said.

The 911 report of the object on Merrick Avenue came in to authorities from a passerby about 5:55 p.m., police said, and immediately prompted the closing of Merrick Avenue between Old Country Road and Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, as well as the Meadowbrook Parkway northbound ramp to Charles Lindbergh Boulevard.

The object was removed by the Nassau Arson/Bomb squad, and the roadways were reopened about 7:15 p.m.

Several hours later, the Nassau Police Public Information Office released a notification that the object was an inert hand grenade, but no additional information was released concerning its possible origin or appearance in the Nassau roadway.