Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

FL Deputies Find Live Grenade in Vehicle at Traffic Stop

Deputies say they also found a device appearing to be a grenade in the vehicle. The driver stated he had cleaned out a veteran’s home and found the grenade and decided to keep it.

October 26, 2021
1 min to read


A Florida man has been arrested after a live grenade was found in his pickup truck during a traffic stop, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.

Louis Branson, 65, was charged with driving with an expired license for more than six months and possession of drug paraphernalia, First Coast News reports.

Ad Loading...

Deputies said they made contact with Branson and asked him to provide his driver’s license. Upon questioning, it was determined Branson was aware that his license was expired for more than six months, and he was arrested without incident.

Deputies say they also found a device appearing to be a grenade in the vehicle. Branson stated he had cleaned out a veteran’s home and found the grenade and decided to keep it. He was reportedly unaware if it was active or not.

After conducting an investigation, including an x-ray of the device, it was believed to be a real grenade based on the x-ray revealing its internal mechanisms. The grenade was removed from the vehicle and safely detonated by at a nearby county-owned facility.

More Patrol

Benchmade Bailout folding knife with a bronze tanto blade, taiga green handle, and orange accents displayed open against a textured black background, highlighting its lightweight tactical design.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Benchmade Launches Taiga Green Bailout

Benchmade has launched its Taiga Green Bailout, which features an anodized aluminum handle, S90V stainless steel, and Burnt Copper hardware accents.

Read More →
Composite image of ADEPT's Nova Titanium tactical helmet, showing front and side views alongside a soldier wearing the helmet in the field, highlighting lightweight ballistic protection for military and tactical applications.
PatrolJuly 9, 2026

Adept Armor Launches the Nova Titanium Combat Helmet: A Metal Ballistic Helmet at Composite-Helmet Weight

Adept Armor said its new Nova Titanium combat helmet delivers rated 9mm protection at 920 grams all-in, low backface deformation, edge-to-edge coverage, and an indefinite shelf life at roughly a quarter the price of premium polyethylene helmets.

Read More →
Two healthcare professionals model 5.11 medical scrubs—one in gray and one in blue—against a blurred hospital background, highlighting the brand’s professional apparel for medical workers.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

5.11 Expands Professional Services Line with Premium, Performance-Driven Scrubs Designed for Healthcare Professionals

The launch of high-performance medical scrubs marks another major expansion of 5.11’s growing Professional Services category, enabling hospitals and healthcare systems to outfit a wide range of roles.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Close-up of a black SOG Seal FX knife featuring a commemorative 250th anniversary engraving on the blade, displayed on an American flag to honor the United States' semiquincentennial.
PatrolJuly 2, 2026

SOG Knives Unveils 250th Anniversary Limited Edition Fixed Blade

SOG Knives has debuted its 250th Anniversary Limited Edition SEAL FX Fixed Blade, and only 250 are available. It features an advanced 4.3-inch S35VN steel blade and a tough glass-reinforced nylon handle.

Read More →
Close-up of a slim black Streamlight Wedge SL flashlight resting on an olive tactical vest with a black-and-gray American flag patch, its LED illuminated to showcase the compact everyday carry design.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJune 25, 2026

POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL

The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.

Read More →
Graphic recognizing Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose (CA) Police Department as Officer of the Month for May 2026, featuring his uniformed portrait beside a badge-and-rose emblem.
PatrolJune 25, 2026

NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Promotional image for Garmont Tactical’s Contact Collection featuring black tactical boots displayed in front of a police vehicle with flashing red and blue emergency lights. Text announces the new collection and notes it is now available.
PatrolJune 24, 2026

Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE

Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.

Read More →
Graphic celebrating 1,613 Folds of Honor graduates, featuring graduation books, a diploma, a mortarboard cap, the Folds of Honor logo, and an inset photo of a graduate standing in front of a campus building.
PatrolJune 11, 2026

Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees

Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.

Read More →
Graphic for a POLICE Magazine article on Tennessee’s new deadly force law, featuring Lady Justice, handcuffs, a Tennessee map with Nashville highlighted, and the headline “Impact of New Deadly Force Law.”
Patrolby David StephensJune 4, 2026

Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee

Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic comparing EMS transport options: an ambulance responding with emergency lights versus police officers assisting an injured person into a patrol vehicle. Headline asks whether to wait for EMS or transport immediately, noting the decision depends on the situation.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJune 2, 2026

When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer by Police Vehicle?

Time-sensitive injuries like penetrating trauma mean a wounded officer needs to reach a trauma center as soon as possible, and in some cases, that means transporting by police vehicle rather than waiting for EMS. What are the factors to consider in making that transport decision?

Read More →