WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) – Something unusual was pulled out of the Potomac River in Washington D.C. over the weekend.
A couple of magnet fishermen found an inactive hand grenade, which led to the closure of part of Theodore Roosevelt Island.
For the fishermen, including Kevin Sutliff, magnet fishing is a hobby full of surprises.
“For me, it’s the thrill of the unknown of what’s in the water,” he said.
Sutliff and his friend Ian White have been dropping magnets in DMV waters for about four years, seeing what they can find.
The pedestrian bridge to Theodore Roosevelt Island is one of their favorite spots.
“We just started doing some magnet fishing and maybe 25, 30 minutes into being here at Theodore Roosevelt Park, I pulled up what appeared to be a grenade,” Sutliff said.
The two quickly dialed 911.
“It was more adrenaline at that point and figure out what we need to do with it, make the call and then get it somewhere safe,” White said.
Shortly after police arrived at the scene, the parking lot and pedestrian bridge was cordoned off.
“I’ve found some handguns and stuff like that, but nothing like this,” Sutliff said.
The scene cleared just before 5:00 p.m.
Sutliff said police confirmed it was an inactive grenade.
“They told us that it was an inert device, that they had to contact the military and see what the military is going to do with it,” Sutliff said.
Sutliff also said that the authorities may actually let him keep the grenade after they finish examining it.
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