Bomb squad removes grenade from East Meadow road

Two East Meadow roadways were closed in the middle of rush hour on Wednesday night as police investigated the presence of an object that appeared to be a hand grenade.
   
According to the Arson/Bomb Squad, at 5:55 p.m., a passing motorist notified the 3rd Precinct of the object on the roadway in front of the Nassau Aquatic Center on Merrick Avenue, between Hempstead Turnpike and Charles Lindbergh Boulevard.
   
Detectives removed the device, which they said was an inert hand grenade of unknown origin, and brought it to a safe, undisclosed location, they said. There were no related injuries, police said.
   
During the investigation, Merrick Avenue and the northbound ramp of the Meadowbrook Parkway onto Charles Lindbergh Blvd. was closed for about an hour.