A downtown intersection was shut down for two hours Tuesday morning after contractors discovered what appeared to be a grenade while renovating a home.
The building, located near Isabella and Church streets, was also evacuated after the item was discovered around 9:30 a.m.
Police told CP24 the contractors found the item lying near a radiator as they worked. However it was eventually determined to be a replica.
“We had our CBRN team attend. They disposed of the item safely. Unfortunately we had to shut down the road to do that,” Sgt. Corey Crawford told reporters shortly after 11 a.m. “The scene has been cleared now.”
Crawford said the replica, found on the second floor of the house, was green and looked like a real grenade.
“It looked like it could have been here for a while. It was hidden behind a radiator,” he said.
The building is currently being renovated by Casey House to be used as a facility to care for those living with HIV/AIDS.
Crawford said the incident does not appear to have been motivated by hate.
Police, firefighters and a special hazardous materials team came to the scene.
Police closed a stretch of both Isabella and Jarvis streets as they investigated. The roads reopened around 11 a.m.
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