by Jim Emerson
BERKELEY, CA — California Highway Patrol officers arrested a man who allegedly threw a hand
grenade from the window of a stolen vehicle.
Carlos Kuceja, 28, of Berkeley, remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bond, pending a pretrial hearing on May 14.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded when the incident unfolded May 2. CHP
officers first observed the stolen vehicle, near 38th Street and Cerrito Avenue in Oakland. The
driver fled an attempted a traffic stop, prompting a low-speed pursuit through Oakland city
streets and into Berkeley.
Near Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Rose Street, CHP officers saw the suspect throw a bag
out the car window. After throwing it, he continued fleeing from officers until turning onto a
dead-end street.
Meanwhile, another CHP officer not engaged in the pursuit observed that the bag contained a
grenade. The detonation pin was partially pulled.
The University of California police bomb squad was deployed to secure the grenade. Berkeley city police helped evacuate
nearby residents.
CHP officers apprehended Kuceja after he abandoned the vehicle and attempted to flee on
foot. Kuceja was placed under arrest on May 2 at 3:45 p.m. He was booked into Alameda
County Santa Rita Jail.
On the same day, Kuceja’s residence on California Street was searched, while residents in
the vicinity were evacuated.
CHP officers were joined by an FBI crisis response squad, and
the UC police bomb squad. However, no additional explosive devices were found.
On May 6, multiple charges were filed against Kuceja.
His charges include receiving a stolen motor vehicle, violent conduct, and evading an officer.
