A man was reportedly chased by California state police after driving a stolen vehicle in Oakland on Friday. During the pursuit, he discarded a live hand-held grenade, according to authorities.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials identified the driver as Carlos Caséja, a 28-year-old from Berkeley. Their attempt to stop him occurred shortly after 3:30 PM, leading to a slow-speed chase that ultimately took them into Berkeley, as noted in a CHP post.
An officer, who was not involved in the chase, subsequently examined a bag discarded by Caséja and found what appeared to be a grenade with its safety pin partially removed, the CHP reported.
This prompted the CHP to notify the Berkeley Police Department, which rerouted traffic and temporarily evacuated nearby homes and businesses. The University of California, Berkeley Police Department (UCPD) bomb squad assessed the situation, recovering the grenade and concluding that it could potentially detonate.
A photograph was shared by the CHP showing the grenade that Caséja allegedly threw from the vehicle.
Caséja eventually reached a dead end and chose not to flee on foot, leading to his arrest. Officers secured the area and evacuated residents. The UCPD bomb squad then investigated the stolen vehicle, declaring it safe as no additional explosives were found.
Authorities later executed a search warrant at Caséja’s home. After a multi-unit building was evacuated and streets were closed off, they confirmed that there were no other explosive devices present. Various response teams, including the CHP, UCPD, and FBI Crisis Response Forces, were involved in the operation.
Caséja is facing multiple charges, including possession of an explosive device, transportation of said device, possession of a stolen vehicle, evasion of law enforcement, and resisting arrest. He has been booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, Alameda County.
The CHP emphasized their commitment to providing safety and security for the community.
