Drug Investigation Yields Training Grenade; Causes Hotel Evacuation

The Franklin County bomb squad responded to a Pickerington-area hotel after what was thought to be a grenade was found during a drug raid.

According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Central Ohio HIDTA Drug Task Force members and Homeland Security officers were investigating a tip regarding a large amount of drugs located in two rooms of the Comfort Inn hotel located at 1800 Hill Road North.

Deputies stopped a vehicle as it was exiting the hotel’s parking lot. While searching the vehicle, deputies reported finding two AK-47 rifles and a handgun.

Investigators then knocked on the door to one of the rooms.

A woman answered the door and investigators reported seeing another rifle and what appeared to be a grenade in plain sight.

The woman was removed from the room and investigators secured the area while waiting for members of the bomb squad to respond.

A total of 18 people were evacuated from the hotel as a precaution.

Investigators determined that the grenade was a military training grenade and allowed everyone to return to their hotel rooms at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

No other information was immediately available.