Watch CBS News

Man Arrested After 4 Devices Found In Checked Baggage At John Wayne Airport

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities said a suspect was in custody after four suspicious devices were found in his checked bag at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, prompting the closure of a terminal Tuesday afternoon.

The 27-year-old man reportedly boarded Frontier Airlines flight 264 to Denver after checking a bag containing three military artillery fuses and a grenade sting ball that projects rubber pellets, according to Lt. Jeff Hallock of the Orange County sheriff's department. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing a weapon in a prohibited area of the airport.

The bomb squad was called in around 2:36 p.m. According to Hallock, the devices discovered by Transportation Security Administration staff were determined to be in safe condition and not in danger of detonation. Military officials were dispatched to the airport to take possession of the devices.

Nothing suspicious was found in the suspect's carry-on bag.

About 130 passengers on the flight to Denver were removed from the plane as part of the investigation and the plane was reportedly searched by investigators. Terminal C and gate 21 were evacuated.

Some flights were reportedly delayed as a result of the investigation. Passengers were asked to call ahead before traveling to the airport.

The evacuation of Terminal C was lifted and the airport returned to full operation around 3:30p.m.

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.