The Beaver County Courthouse was evacuated for 80 minutes as a precaution after the box that was addressed to the sheriff was X-rayed with other incoming mail, Fox News reports.
That’s when officials discovered it was a harmless gag gift.
They were not amused, Inside Edition reports.
The grenade, which had previously been disarmed, was mounted to a small piece of wood that said “Complaint department. Take a number.” A numbered plastic ticket was attached to the pin, reports said.
Now that gag gift is headed for an evidence locker, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
The sender’s name and return address were even on the package, and it took authorities less than 15 minutes to arrive at the home in Beaver Falls. The sender was upset and apologized, said Beaver County District Attorney David J. Lozier. The man showed authorities the magazine that he’d ordered the gift from.
“When I saw the name on the package, that’s the first time I’d ever seen the name or heard of this person,” Guy said. “But I understand, through the investigation, that this guy claimed to be a supporter of me,” he told WTAE. “Like I said, no contact, no friendship, no relationship there, whatsoever.”
Lozier added that the man won’t face criminal charges like reckless endangerment or posing a hazard to the public because there was “no intent or ability to cause harm,” the Post-Gazette reports.
But just because this was legal doesn’t mean it’s smart, Lozier added.
Officials declined to release his name.