Watch CBS News

Traffic Stop Leads To Pipe Bomb Arrest In Clayton

CLAYTON (CBS SF) -- A routine traffic stop in Clayton late Wednesday night led to a man's arrest for alleged possession of a pipe bomb, police said Thursday.

An officer found the pipe bomb in the man's pants pocket after a stopping him for expired registration tags near Clayton and Mitchell Canyon roads just before midnight, Clayton police Chief Chris Thorsen said.

The Walnut Creek Police Department Bomb Disposal Unit was called to the scene and Clayton Road was closed for about 90 minutes while bomb squad personnel worked to render the device safe. No one was injured.

Officers arrested the man, identified as 19-year-old Joseph Nichols of Oakley, on suspicion of felony possession of a destructive device, Thorsen said.

© Copyright 2014 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.