A Friday afternoon car chase in California nearly turned into a disaster scene when a suspect fleeing in a stolen vehicle threw a live grenade out of his window during a slow-speed pursuit, according to state authorities.

The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Carlos Kuceja of Berkeley, was spotted by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers behind the wheel of a stolen car in Oakland just after 3:30 p.m. When officers attempted a traffic stop, Kuceja refused to yield, instead leading them on a prolonged chase into nearby Berkeley.

While evading police, Kuceja allegedly threw a bag from the driver’s side window. According to the CHP’s Golden Gate Division, an officer not directly involved in the pursuit recovered the bag and was shocked to find what appeared to be a grenade—with its safety pin partially removed—inside.

Recognizing the potential threat, CHP officers immediately notified the Berkeley Police Department. Emergency responders sprang into action, rerouting traffic, evacuating homes and businesses in the vicinity, and calling in the University of California, Berkeley Police Department’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit.

Bomb technicians later confirmed that the device was live and capable of detonation.

As the chase continued, Kuceja drove himself into a dead-end street. He attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by CHP officers. Following his arrest, investigators searched both the stolen vehicle and the residence where Kuceja had reportedly been squatting.

According to police, no additional explosives were found in the car or the multi-unit home. Nevertheless, the sweep was thorough and involved a combined force of CHP, UC Berkeley Police, and the FBI’s Crisis Response Squad, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.

CHP confirmed that Kuceja faces a slew of felony charges, including possession and transportation of a destructive device, possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing law enforcement, and resisting arrest. He is currently being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, located in Alameda County.

The incident caused temporary chaos in the normally peaceful Berkeley neighborhood and has raised fresh concerns about how suspects obtain military-grade weapons. The grenade in question was identified as a Soviet-made F-1 hand grenade, a design commonly used by Eastern bloc forces during the Cold War.

“The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security,” the agency stated in its release following the incident. That mission was put to the test Friday, as the potential for mass casualties loomed before officers managed to defuse the situation—literally and figuratively.

The successful neutralization of the explosive and safe apprehension of Kuceja were seen as a testament to the coordination between local, state, and federal authorities. However, the incident has renewed focus on rising crime in California’s urban centers and the apparent availability of dangerous weapons even to petty criminals.

Police have not yet released further details on how Kuceja acquired the grenade or the stolen vehicle. Authorities are also investigating whether the suspect has any ties to organized crime or extremist groups.

In the meantime, residents of the East Bay area are left grappling with the surreal reality that a live explosive was hurled onto their city streets during what began as a routine police pursuit. For many, the images of a Soviet-era grenade disrupting a typical Friday commute will not soon be forgotten.