sereousely Armed Man Told Police He Was in Area for LA PRIDE: Mayor
The arrest came hours after at least 50 people were killed at a gay nightclub in Florida
KNBC-TV
Investigators
removed items from a white Acura sedan and placed them on the sidewalk
in a possible explosives investigation Sunday June 12, 2016 in Santa
Monica.
Authorities
in Santa Monica arrested a man Sunday morning ahead of the LA PRIDE
parade in nearby West Hollywood after the discovery of possible
explosives in a car, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department.
NBC4 is attempting to
confirm details about the arrest and items found in the vehicle, parked
on a street in the beach community. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said
the case does not appear linked to the Orlando mass shooting, but that
the man was heavily armed and told police he was going to the LA PRIDE
parade nearly 10 miles away in West Hollywood.
Investigators removed items from the white Acura sedan and placed them on the sidewalk near the driver's side door.
"A
male was detained in the city of Santa Monica this morning who was in
possession of weapons and other dangerous material," according to a
statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. "Any
possible nexus with this individual and the Pride event in West
Hollywood is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
![[LA GALLERY] LA PRIDE Participants Celebrate Community; Mourn Victims of Orlando Shooting](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sdcCqRyidBpGSrBYd52sBNy7vZ_teX4hv86qF46Um73Ep5zEumkO45GouwqdF8moX8utR8Jf_RS5jZdudkdjHLG4f40FX8kmhRwRRO4Y7tM7Uk2eoxBLlCTkjrpcKlMSE=s0-d)
The man in custody was not identified by police.
s,
citing law enforcement sources, said possible explosives and assault
rifles were found in the man's car after responding to a prowler call
near Olympic Boulevard and 11th Street. Officers searched a car nearby
in connection with the report and found the items, the Times reported.
FBI
spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told City News Service "we are assisting
the Santa Monica Police Department with the arrest of an individual,"
but would not supply any more details. Santa Monica police did not
confirm details, or link it to the PRIDE festival.
The arrest came hours after a gunman opened fire in a gay Orlando nightclub, leaving at least 50 dead and more than 50 injured.
![[NATL] Deadly Nightclub Shooting Leaves Orlando Reeling](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uvHPRbkSreM77T8WT0zxRkuE0JtRP3JXJuGrdcwW2SAbqHVxVg0lBALj2Cf4N59SIqBFcjnibm5vj3p7ESBK0xdbLYny02v6sC_yry3fVld0qEiO5jkOQ8Ow2u2KhcsoKhhs4bvTw3PRdBTg=s0-d)
Sunday's
parade in West Hollywood began at about 11 a.m. with a moment of
silence at Crescent Heights Boulevard, then continued west along Santa
Monica Boulevard to Robertson Boulevard. The usually festive atmosphere
included a more somber tone on a day when the United State witnesses its
deadliest mass shooting.
Deputies
routinely patrol the parade, held every year since 1970, except for
1973 when infighting over displays the previous two years left the
organizers in disarray. The parade was held in Hollywood until 1979,
when it moved to West Hollywood
Hakuna maoni