Military Explosive Device Found In Search Of Evacuated Watsonville Neighborhood

WATSONVILLE (CBS SF) -- Residences in a Watsonville neighborhood were evacuated after an explosive device was found, police said.

Shortly before noon Saturday, police were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of Palm Avenue on a report of a suspicious item, possibly a hand grenade, police said.

Officers arrived in the area and evacuated surrounding residences. Police blocked off Palm Avenue between Lincoln and Jefferson streets.

Members of the Santa Cruz County Bomb Squad identified the suspicious item as a military ordnance device. Members of the Travis Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team responded to the residential neighborhood to safely remove and then destroy the device, according to police.

Police are investigating how and why the device arrived at the residence. The area was cleared around 5:30 p.m., police said.

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