Grenade found in Bethesda backyard

A person digging in the yard of a home in the Westgate neighborhood of Bethesda yesterday discovered a grenade. The surprising find was unearthed around 5:30 PM yesterday in the 5300 block of Worthington Drive. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and Montgomery County police personnel responded to the scene, including explosive experts. MCFRS spokesperson Pete Piringer said that the grenade was determined to be inert, with no danger of exploding.

Shells fired from a World War I-era chemical weapons testing ground by American University have been found in Spring Valley, and as far away as the Maryland side of Dalecarlia Parkway, in the past. There is no indication at this time that the grenade has any association with those U.S. Army activities over 100 years ago.

Photos courtesy Pete Piringer/MCFRS

BETHESDA BOMB SQUAD ROBOTS IN ACTION ON WOODMONT AVENUE (VIDEO)

Here is video of two Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services bomb unit robots during last night's police investigation of an apparent bomb scare in a Bethesda parking lot. As of early this morning, Montgomery County Police and MCFRS have not yet given many specific details on the incident, which took place at Public Parking Lot 43 on Woodmont Avenue. The investigation required a block of Woodmont to close between Cordell and St. Elmo Avenues. Police reopened the road after 11:00 PM, but police and fire public information Twitter accounts were silent on the matter Tuesday night.

Despite the large police presence and road closure, relatively few downtown seemed overly concerned. Patrons at Sapphire Cafe, directly adjacent to the investigation, continued their fantasy football drafts.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF BLASTING AT 4500 EAST-WEST HIGHWAY IN BETHESDA YESTERDAY

Check out this video to see the actual detonation of explosive charges yesterday, at the 4500 East-West Highway construction site, from high above the site. Thanks to a very helpful reader for forwarding this. Blasting will resume Monday morning after 10:30 AM.