In a scene ripped from the online game franchise Grand Theft Auto, a suspected automotive thief tossed a dwell grenade at cops throughout a wild automotive chase Friday, inflicting panic in a residential California neighborhood.
California Freeway Patrol officers narrowly prevented disaster Friday when the suspect, Carlos Kuceja, 28, hurled the explosive gadget at them in an effort to keep away from seize whereas driving by means of Berkeley.
The practically disastrous incident started when CHP officers tried to drag over Kuceja in Oakland at roughly 3:30 p.m. after he was seen allegedly driving in a stolen automotive, cops stated in a press launch.
“When the officers attempted to stop the vehicle, Kuceja fled, and a pursuit ensued,” CHP stated. “The pursuit proceeded at slow speeds through Oakland and entered the city of Berkeley.”
Kuceja threw a bag from the driving force’s aspect window through the pursuit, officers stated. One other cop not concerned within the chase probed the bag solely to make the explosive discovery.
“Upon looking inside, the officer observed what appeared to be a grenade with the safety pin partially removed,” police stated in a press release.
CHP notified the Berkeley Police Division of the grenade and requested help whereas telling native residents to evacuate their houses. The College of California, Berkeley, Explosive Ordnance Disposal workforce responded to the realm, secured the grenade and cleared the realm by 5 p.m., police stated.
In the meantime, the chase for the suspect continued. Kuceja deserted the stolen car and tried to make his getaway on foot, police stated.
Officers chased after him and cornered him on a dead-end avenue.
The UCPD Bomb Group additionally searched the deserted automotive and decided there have been no further explosives within the car.
After buying a search warrant, officers additionally scoured Kuceja’s residence — a multi-home dwelling the place police say he was residing illegally –– for different explosives, however none have been discovered, police stated.
Residents on the location have been briefly evacuated whereas police carried out their search.
They have been allowed again into their houses by 10:30 p.m., police stated.
Kuceja was arrested on felony fees of possession and transportation of a damaging gadget, possession of a stolen car, fleeing police and resisting arrest, police stated.
