Bomb squad investigates hand grenade in car of Springfield Gardens suspect

Photos by Lloyd Mitchell

By Lloyd Mitchell 

A man suspected of driving a stolen car through Springfield Gardens Wednesday was transporting a hand grenade in the vehicle, igniting fears and prompting a call to the bomb squad, cops said.

Officers from the 113th Precinct responded to a 911 call from a resident who said the as-yet unnamed man was acting suspiciously at the corner of Long Street and 119th Street. The man ran when the NYPD officers arrived, but they managed to apprehend him and search the car, which they said was stolen. 

Officers discovered the grenade and contacted the NYPD Bomb Unit at about 9:45 a.m., an NYPD spokesperson said. The bomb squad determined that the weapon of war was “inert” at roughly 11 a.m., and the suspect was arrested for car theft. 

An NYPD spokesperson did not have the suspect’s name because the arrest had not yet been filed as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Additional reporting by David Brand