Boston Man Who Arrived At LAX In Body Armor Pleads Not Guilty

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A man accused of arriving at Los Angeles International Airport from Japan wearing body armor and carrying a cache of weapons plead not guilty Thursday to a transporting hazardous materials charge.

Yongda Huang Harris, 28, was arrested on Oct. 5 after landing at LAX wearing a bullet-proof vest, flame-retardant legging covers and knee pads underneath a trench coat.

Authorities found what was described as an arsenal of dangerous items in Harris' luggage, including a gas mask, bio-hazard suits, leg irons, knives, body bags, a hatchet, a collapsible baton, billy clubs, a respirator, and a smoke grenade, which is defined as a hazardous device and prohibited from being taken aboard any passenger aircraft, according to CBP officials.

Yongda Huang Harris is due back in court on Dec. 17 for a status conference, with a trial date set for Jan. 8.