Wakefield Police were called to the area near Salem and Main streets around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night after a caller reported a possible live hand grenade in the street.

At 7:23 p.m. on Wednesday night, the caller said that there was a can-shaped item in the street with smoke coming from it. That drew a prompt response from the area’s law enforcement and rescue personnel. At least one social media report around that time also told local media that a hand grenade had just been found in downtown Wakefield.

However, Wakefield Police quickly confirmed in a phone call that there was never a hand grenade. Instead, it was some sort of smoke bomb. Wakefield Police told this website that the object was not homemade, but more likely something that could be purchased at a fireworks type shop.

The apparent pyrotechnic device drew the State Police Bomb Squad to town, which confirmed that it was safe, according to the Thursday morning police log. The street was also shut down and a staging area was set up at Common and Church for the personnel.

In a followup email with Patch, Lieutenant Craig Calabrese of the Wakefield Police Department noted that if caught, the individual who placed the object in the road could be charged with possession of or placing a 'hoax' device, which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.