Local News in Brief : Search of Car Reveals Bomb, Drugs; 2 Held

A 42-year-old man, stopped on suspicion of drunk driving, and a 27-year-old female companion were arrested in Saugus early Sunday after Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies searched their car and found drugs, guns, nearly $5,000 in cash and a plastic pipe bomb, authorities said.

Sgt. Howard Fairchild said Crandle Handke of Sylmar was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin and cocaine for sale, driving under the influence of heroin and possession of an explosive device. Kelly Burris, also of Sylmar, was arrested on suspicion of possession of heroin and cocaine for sale, possession of an explosive device, concealing a loaded weapon and possession of armor-piercing ammunition, he said.

Handke was stopped on Bouquet Canyon Road near Susan Beth Way in Saugus at 1:10 a.m., on suspicion of drunk driving, Fairchild said. It was later determined that Handke was under the influence of heroin, he said.

Deputies searched Burris and found a 9-millimeter pistol, loaded with Teflon armor-piercing bullets, and $4,800 in her purse, Fairchild said.

Inside the pair’s 1985 black Ford Mustang, deputies found a container with half an ounce of cocaine, eight packets of heroin, a .22-caliber rifle and a plastic pipe bomb, Fairchild said. The arson and explosive detail of the Sheriff’s Department detonated the bomb, which Fairchild said was equal to five sticks of dynamite.