Two men were arrested on drug-related charges before officers discovered the suspicious device during a search of their vehicle. Irvine City News | September 23, 2026

Irvine police evacuated a shopping center Monday after officers discovered what appeared to be a pipe bomb inside a vehicle at a Chevron station on Portola Parkway. Officers responded to the gas station at 3800 Portola Parkway for a report of suspicious circumstances and arrested two men for drug possession. One of the men also had an outstanding warrant, police said.

During a search of their vehicle, officers found the apparent explosive device and evacuated the surrounding shopping center as a precaution. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad responded and spent about two hours examining and rendering the device safe before removing it.

This article draws on reporting by Matthew Rodriguez of CBS Los Angeles, the Orange County Register and KTLA, and information from the Irvine Police Department.