Traffic Stalled by Search of Bus for Man With Gun
Santa Monica police Thursday morning briefly detained a man carrying a large pellet gun in his backpack after they stopped the city bus he was riding in the middle of traffic.
The incident occurred about 10:30 a.m. at the corner of Pico Boulevard and 4th Street when more than a dozen officers surrounded the bus with their guns drawn.
One by one, about 25 stunned passengers were ordered from the bus until officers arrested and handcuffed the man and searched his backpack for what they thought could be a real gun.
Santa Monica Police Lt. Gary Gallinot said the man boarded the bus near Santa Monica College, where he is a student, after showing his pellet gun to friends.
A witness called police to report that a man brandishing a gun had boarded a bus and gave them the bus number.
Police discovered a unloaded BB gun in the backpack of the 19-year-old Los Angeles man. He was released after questioning, Gallinot said.
The incident backed up traffic for nearly half an hour before anxious passengers were allowed to re-board the bus.
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