A police pursuit that began after a report of a stolen vehicle ended in downtown Los Angeles on the afternoon of Sept. 16 when the car collided with a curb and became disabled, prompting officers to secure the scene and evacuate nearby sidewalks and businesses. Los Angeles Police Department officers found, inside the vehicle, an apparatus they identified as a "labubus," a term LAPD officials said they were still trying to define while treating the device as potentially hazardous.

The crash occurred after a multi-agency response, and the Los Angeles Fire Department's hazardous-materials unit was summoned to inspect the item, according to statements from the LAPD and LAFD. CBS News first reported the discovery. Authorities said one occupant of the vehicle was taken into custody at the scene; others fled the immediate area and remained under investigation. No fatalities were reported, and officials said any injuries were non-life-threatening.

An LAPD spokesperson told reporters that investigators are working to determine the origin and purpose of the device, and whether it poses a public-safety risk. "Our priority is to identify what was in the vehicle and whether it compromised the safety of the public or our officers," the spokesperson said, adding that evidence technicians and bomb squad personnel were involved in the collection and analysis.

The discovery of an unfamiliar device during a vehicle pursuit amplifies longstanding debates over when and how police should engage in high-speed chases. Los Angeles has tightened pursuit policies in recent years amid community concern about collisions and bystander harm. City officials and civil-society groups have for months pushed for clearer limits and greater transparency, while law-enforcement officials emphasize the need to apprehend suspects and recover stolen property.

"This incident highlights the dual public-safety challenges facing the city: the immediate risk posed by high-speed pursuits and the evolving nature of criminal activity," said a downtown residents' association leader who asked not to be named. Community advocates called on the LAPD to release body-cam and dash-cam footage and to brief City Council members publicly on the findings of the investigation.

Policy makers say the episode could reshape local debate as candidates and incumbents position themselves on public-safety priorities. City Council committees that oversee police practices have planned hearings in recent months, and council members said they would monitor the investigation to determine whether further policy changes are necessary. "Residents deserve both effective policing and robust safeguards against unnecessary risk," one council member said in a statement. "We will seek answers about what happened and whether our pursuit and safety protocols need adjusting."

Investigators said forensic testing and a technical assessment of the device could take days. The LAPD asked anyone with video or relevant information about the pursuit to contact investigators. As officials continue to probe the circumstances that led to the crash and the presence of the "labubus," the episode is likely to serve as a focal point in ongoing conversations about police discretion, public safety, and municipal oversight.