38°
HARRISON, N.Y. - A pest control grenade found near the Westchester County Airport entrance stopped traffic Tuesday afternoon as police investigated the source and safety of the device, county police said.
Police initially responded to a suspicious package report alongside the road around noon on Tuesday. Two women leaving the airport were the first to spot what appeared to be a hand grenade in the westbound lane of Airport Road about a half mile from the terminal, a county statement said.
The bomb squad responded.
The investigation determined the object was a device used for pest control.
The health department was called to scene to make sure the device was not hazardous to the air throughout the region, County Police Deputy Commissioner Joseph Yasinksi said.
"We don't know how it got there," Yasinksi said.
The airport remained open throughout the investigation except for the main Airport Road entrance, which was blocked off by county police for close to two hours. Flights were also not affected, Yasinksi said.
"I want to thank the two women for their vigilance," Westchester Public Safety Commissioner George Longworth said. "This incident turned out to be a false alarm, but this kind of reaction is how we keep the public safe."
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
E-mail town reporter Phil Corso at PCorso@TheDailyHarrison.com.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Armonk and receive free news updates.
