Inert hand grenade found at Fashion Island

NEWPORT BEACH — The hand grenade found in a Fashion Island parking lot Thursday morning was dead, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said.

About 7:34 a.m., Fashion Island security was patrolling the parking structure between Bloomingdales and Nordstrom when they found the pineapple-shaped grenade standing upright in a parking stall on the second level.

“It was obviously placed there. For what reason, we don’t know,” said Newport Beach Sgt. Steve Burdette. “There’s no rhyme or reason.”

Security closed the structure while authorities could respond. A robot from the Orange County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad inspected the grenade and found that the bottom had been drilled out.

There was still a pin in the grenade, but the robot determined the device was inert, officials said.

Police said there were no security cameras in the area the grenade was found, and they have no witnesses or leads.

The structure was nearly empty when the grenade was found, and no one was injured. The outdoor shopping center wasn’t open and only employees were in the area, officials said. The parking structure was reopened by the time Fashion Island opened at 10 a.m.