MEDFORD, Ore. — A burglary arrest in Medford led to the discovery of an object that police think was an old grenade, according to Lieutenant Mike Budreau with the Medford Police Department.
A couple living in the 2200-block of Kingswod Drive were out for a walk on Friday morning around 8:30 a.m., Budreau said, leaving their garage door open. When they returned home, they reported finding a strange man in their garage — apparently trying to steal a gas can.
"The suspect told them he needed gas for his car parked around the corner," Medford Police said in a Facebook post. "Before we could get there, the male fled on foot, but we were able to get him into custody after a quick game of hide and seek."
Lt. Budreau identified the suspect as 24-year-old Sean Hodgkins.
When officers search Hodgkins' car, they found what looked like a "rusty old grenade." They quickly called in the Oregon State Police bomb squad to investigate, shutting down the street for roughly an hour.
At this time MPD still does not know if the object was an active explosive device.
Hodgkins faces burglary and theft charges, as well as a probation violation. Budreau said that Hodgkins was under the influence of meth at the time of the break-in and arrest.
