Hand Grenade, Drugs, Stolen Checks Seized by CHP

CHP Officer Brian Wood pulled over a Mazda sedan for tailgating and erratic driving on Hearn Avenue in Santa Rosa around 10:20 a.m. Friday.

The driver, Zachary Martin, 29, of Santa Rosa, admitted he tried to evade the CHP because his license was suspended, CHP Officer Jon Sloat said. Martin was arrested for diving while suspended, violation of probation and possession of an illegal knife.

The CHP officer smelled marijuana in the vehicle and found a backpack with three pounds of marijuana and hash packaged for sale and a hand grenade, Sloat said.

Passenger Tony Cuellar, 37, of Santa Rosa, claimed the backpack was his and the grenade was disabled, Sloat said.

The Sonoma County Bomb Squad responded and confirmed the grenade was inert. Cuellar was arrested for possession of marijuana for sale and violation of probation, Sloat said.

Passenger Elizabeth Sengsourth, 33, of Santa Rosa, was arrested for possession of stolen property when the CHP found altered checks totaling $4,500 that were not in her name in her purse, Sloat said. Officers also found stolen credit cards and social security cards, Sloat said.

--Bay City News

--Photo: Patch Archive