Discovery of firearms, which turn out to be props, sparks chaos at LAX

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (FOX 11/ CNS) - A man carrying what appeared to be hand grenades and loaded firearms was stopped at a traffic checkpoint heading into Los Angeles International Airport Friday, leading to a massive police presence and street closures that stifled traffic, but the weapons turned out to be fake.

The suspected weapons were discovered in the back of a white pickup around 8:30 a.m. at a checkpoint near Century and Sepulveda boulevards. Police immediately shut down traffic in the area, causing miles-long backups on northbound Sepulveda and westbound Century

Police swarmed around the truck, and a bomb squad was summoned to the scene. But about an hour later, airport police declared the situation over.

Officers determined that the ``weapons'' found inside the truck were actually collectible items of the type used as movie-type props of rifles and grenades, and none was operational, Airport police Officer Rob Pedregon said.

"The gentleman was a memorabilia collector, and all of the items were legally possessed,'' Pedregon said. ``No crime was committed.''

The pickup truck had been randomly picked to be searched at the checkpoint, Pedregon said.