Members of the Elizabethton Police Department responded to the home of local businessman Steve Grindstaff at 2 p.m. Friday in reference to a suspicious object at his home at 1901 Field Road.

According to a press release by the EPD, the object was located on the property and shown to patrol officers upon arrival. Due to the physical appearance of the object, officers requested assistance from members of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team of the Johnson City Police Department.

“Further inspection of the item revealed the object to have components that would be consistent with an improvised explosive device,” the release said. “At that time, the device was rendered safe by EOD.”

The release states the object was determined to be non-explosive in nature, and as of Friday evening, its origin was unknown.

However, there was a small explosion at approximately 5:30 p.m. in what appeared to be the lower portion of Grindstaff’s driveway, at a safe distance from his home or his neighbor’s home.

In a Facebook comment, Ashley Grindstaff said thankfully, no one was home.

Investigation is being conducted by Tennessee Bomb and Arson with the assistance of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and the Elizabethton Police Department.  Investigation was ongoing as of Friday evening.