In a bizarre incident reminiscent of a scene from Grand Theft Auto, a car thief hurled a live grenade at a police officer during a frantic pursuit in California on Friday, creating chaos in a neighborhood.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials narrowly escaped disaster when 28-year-old Carlos Caséja attempted to use an explosive device to evade capture while driving in Berkeley.
The chase began around 3:30 PM when CHP officers attempted to pull over Caséja, who was allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle.
“When the officers initiated the stop, Caséja fled, leading to the continuation of the pursuit,” the CHP reported. “The chase moved at a slower pace through Oakland before entering Berkeley.”
During the pursuit, Caséja threw a bag from the driver’s side window. Another officer, not involved in the chase, later examined the bag and made a shocking discovery.
“Inside the bag, officers found what appeared to be a live grenade with the safety pin partially removed,” police stated.
The CHP alerted the Berkeley Police Department about the potential bomb and evacuated local residents for safety. The UC Berkeley Explosive Disposal Team responded, handled the grenade, and cleared the area by 5 PM.
Meanwhile, Caséja continued to evade capture, eventually abandoning the stolen car and attempting to flee on foot. An officer pursued him, eventually cornering him in a dead-end street.
The bomb team searched for other possible explosives in abandoned vehicles and confirmed that the stolen car contained no additional threats.
Following a search warrant, officers investigated Caséja’s residence—a multi-unit dwelling where he reportedly lived illegally—but found no other explosives.
Residents were temporarily evacuated during the search and were allowed to return home by 10:30 PM.
Caséja has been charged with felony possession and transport of destructive devices, as well as possessing a stolen vehicle, fleeing from police, and resisting arrest.
