Lakeland Police Station Closed After Citizen Brings In Suspected Hand Grenade

Update: This story has been updated to reflect the reopening of the police department and surrounding road.
The Lakeland Police Department headquarters is closed this afternoon and a perimeter is in place after a resident walked in with a box containing what they believed to be an old hand grenade.

According to the police department, the citizen found the item while helping clean out the personal effects of a family member and brought it to the station in good faith.

The department closed the building and established a perimeter as a precaution while a team from the Tampa bomb squad investigates the item and disposes of it. Police have not said whether the device is live, inert or a novelty, and that determination is expected to come from the bomb squad.

Lakeland police headquarters is located at 219 N. Massachusetts Ave. in downtown Lakeland. The department said it will provide an update when the station reopens.

Polk County has seen similar responses before. In February, Auburndale police worked with the Tampa Police Department bomb squad to safely dispose of a World War I-era grenade after a diagnostic evaluation found the device was in poor condition, with a voluntary evacuation recommended for a several-block area of downtown Auburndale.

Law enforcement agencies across Florida consistently advise the same thing when someone finds a suspected explosive device in a home, a garage or a relative’s belongings: do not touch it, do not move it and do not transport it. Call 911 and let officers come to the item.

This is a developing story. The Citrus Tea will update this report as more information becomes available.

UPDATE: The Lakeland Police Department confirmed Sunday evening that the device was a live hand grenade, possibly from the Korean War era. The Tampa Police Department bomb squad removed the item without incident and ensured a safe disposal. The police station and all affected roadways have reopened for normal operations, and no injuries were reported.

In its update, the department said the community member meant well but urged anyone who finds a suspicious device to call police immediately rather than handle it. Police advise contacting your local law enforcement agency and allowing officers to come to you to assess the situation.

Sources: Lakeland Police Department statement, August 16, 2026; Lakeland Police Department, lakelandgov.net; “APD and TPD safely contained World War I-era grenade in Auburndale: Police,” Tampa Bay 28, tampabay28.com, February 13, 2026