SANTA MARIA,
Calif. -- Santa Maria High School students were placed on lock down this morning
for a bomb scare right near campus.
City workers were
cleaning in a park right by the school when they looked under a tree and found
what appeared to be a hand grenade.
Police blocked off the
scene at Lincoln and Morrison on the Northwest end of the school.
Police says the
explosive devise turned out to be a dummy.
City workers
found the grenade near pieces of clothing.
Police say it was a
hand grenade similar to the ones found back in World War Two but without the
powder inside.
"The school is aware of it," says Sergeant Chris
Nartatez. "We did evacuate the Northwest part of school and of course the park
was cordoned off and that's all for the protection of all the citizens
here."
Santa Barbara County
Sheriff's bomb squad safely removed the grenade.
Police interviewed
city employees who found the grenade but the workers say they didn't see anyone
suspicious nearby who may have dropped it off.
