Motel housekeeper finds 'dummy' grenade in room

9/16/2001

The northwest Ohio bomb squad was called to an Oregon motel yesterday when a housekeeper found a hand grenade under a pillow in one of the rooms.

The grenade turned out to be a “dummy” used for practice, Oregon police Sgt. Jim Baker said.

Eric V. Leverenz, 34, of 892 Fremont St., Perrysburg, was arrested at the Seneca Motel, 2935 Navarre Ave., shortly before 3 p.m. on a charge of inducing panic, a felony, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, according to Sergeant Baker, who said authorities confiscated a crack cocaine pipe.

The bomb squad was called to the motel when the grenade was discovered about 10:30 a.m.

He said such grenades are not illegal to possess. There were no notes or threats, Sergeant Baker said.