Canoga Park : 2 Held in Throwing of Explosive Devices

Two men suspected of throwing unknown explosive devices at pedestrians, bicyclists and police officers in Canoga Park were arrested Thursday night at the intersection of Owensmouth Avenue and Hart Street, authorities said.

Larry LeRoy Lincke, 33, and James Bruton, 31, were booked for wrongfully possessing and exploding a destructive device with intent to injure or intimidate, West Valley Police Officer Eric Rose said.

“These were major explosive devices,” Rose said. “They’re strong enough to mutilate a person” if they exploded within 25 feet of someone.

Undercover officers on duty in the area responded to what sounded like gun shots near Owensmouth Avenue and Sherman Way around 10:40 p.m. Thursday, police said. A witness reported seeing the suspects driving a blue 1965 Ford Mustang, police said.

Rose said officers located the car heading south in an alley east of Owensmouth Avenue and saw the suspects throw an unknown type of explosive at pedestrians and a bicyclist. The suspects stopped at Remmet Avenue and Hart Street, where undercover officers identified themselves as police officers.

Police said the passenger in the car threw several devices at the officers and continued south on Remmet Avenue. One device exploded under the police car, but none of the officers were injured, police said.

After evading officers for several blocks, the suspects were apprehended at Owensmouth Avenue and Hart Street and arrested, police said.

Numerous pyrotechnic devices were recovered from the suspects’ car, which were taken away by the bomb squad, Rose said.

Both men are being held at the Van Nuys jail on $500,00 bail each. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Criminal Conspiracy section and Explosives Unit are handling the investigation.