ST. FRANCIS — Police say a city council member in Minnesota mailed himself a fake grenade to gain sympathy from his constituents.

Leroy Schaffer was cited for filing a false police report after calling St. Francis officers last week to report a suspicious package he received in the mail. Schaffer showed the officer a package postmarked from Chicago in his mailbox.

Police say the councilman told the officer he thought it was a bomb because “he was in politics and has a lot of enemies.” Schaffer insisted the officer open the package. And, when the officer declined, Schaffer ripped it open to reveal what looked like a real hand grenade.

When Schaffer was interviewed by detectives, he admitted driving to Chicago and mailing himself the package in order to gain sympathy from the public.