Homemade explosive device detonated by Santa Clara police

An improvised explosive device that turned up after a traffic stop was safely detonated on the front lawn of the Santa Clara Police Department Thursday afternoon, according to a lieutenant.

Officers stopped a car in the vicinity of Space Park Drive and Scott Boulevard around 2:10 p.m. on suspicion of littering and driving a vehicle with expired registration.

The suspect, who has not yet been identified, was arrested on suspicion of driving on a suspended license, being a felon in possession of a Tazer stun gun, possession of drug paraphernalia and being under the influence of a controlled substance, according to Lt. Dan Moreno.

After the suspect was arrested, they brought his backpack to the police station and searched it. At the bottom of the bag they found a device roughly the size of a highlighter pen with a cap and a wire sticking out of the other end, Moreno said.

They brought the device outside and requested assistance from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad, who later determined that it was a viable explosive. After using an X-ray to examine the device, it was found to contain black powder or something similar, according to Moreno.

The device was safely detonated on the front lawn of the Santa Clara Police Department around 4:30 p.m., Moreno said.

The suspect has since been arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a destructive device in addition to the original drug and weapon violations.

He will likely be identified by police on Friday, according to Moreno.

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