2 Grenades Found In Backyard Of South LA Home; Evacuations Ordered

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles police say a bomb squad was called to a South Los Angeles home after a resident discovered two grenades in the fire pit of his backyard.

The discovery was made at approximately noon at a home in the 400 block of East 70th Street.

According to authorities, the resident had recently purchased the property and was cleaning out the backyard when he found the grenades with their pins still intact.

Police said the call initially came in as a "suspicious package."

An evacuation perimeter of 300 feet was ordered, police said.

According to Los Angeles Police Sgt. Omar Bazulto the scene was cleared by 3:30 p.m. and evacuees allowed to return back to their homes.

"The people who found the two grenades were new owners of the house," Bazulto said. "The backyard was pretty overgrown and the owners were doing landscaping when they found the grenades."

The grenades were rusted over and apparently from the Vietnam war era. "Because of the rusted condition the bomb squad decided to destroy the grenades at the location," Bazulto said. "We didn't know if they were dummies but it was better not to take any chances."