Army bomb disposal specialists were called to Invercargill yesterday after a hand grenade was found by Invercargill police conducting a search warrant.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Bowman, of Invercargill, said the search warrant was executed at an Otatara house by the Invercargill armed offenders squad and other police staff on Wednesday night.
During the search, an item which police believed was a live grenade was located.
Det Snr Sgt Bowman said police contacted the New Zealand Defence Force's explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) squadron in Christchurch, and it was decided the house should be secured until the squad arrived in Invercargill to examine the grenade.
Following an examination yesterday morning, the squad determined it was no longer a danger.
However, a 49-year-old unemployed man from the address was charged with several firearms-related offences and appeared in the Invercargill District Court yesterday.
