San Diego
A 30-year-old man was arrested after he detonated a hand-grenade simulator in his ex-girlfriend’s East San Diego apartment, police and fire officials said Thursday.
About 11 p.m. Wednesday, Miguel Angel Portillo, 30, stood at the doorway of his ex-girlfriend’s apartment in the 5400 block of Bayview Heights Place and hurled the device inside, shattering windows and charring floors and walls, officials said.
Although the practice device, normally used by the military to train recruits in the use of hand grenades, has enough of a charge to inflict serious injury, no one was hurt, said Sgt. Frank Barone of the Metro Arson Task Force.
Police said Portillo was believe to have been upset after an argument with his ex-girlfriend. Police said he is a transient.
Portillo was arrested on suspicion of arson to an inhabited property and possession of a destructive device. Portillo was being held at the County Jail downtown in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
