Man Arrested with Guns, Explosives Said He Was Going to L.A. Pride: Police

By Alexander Nguyen, Patch

SANTA MONICA, CA — A 20-year-old man, who told police he was going to attend the Los Angeles Pride Festival, was arrested early Sunday morning in Santa Monica with assault weapons and explosives, authorities said.

The arrest happened at around 5 a.m. in the 1700 block of 11th Street. Police were responding to a call of a possible prowler in the area and found the man sitting by his car. When he told them he was a waiting for a friend, police became suspicious and searched the car, Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks said.

She also identified the man as James Wesley Howell. She described him as a white man from Indiana.

Authorities said he told them he was in town for the L.A. Pride Festival. More than 400,000 people are expected at the parade and street festival in West Hollywood on Sunday.

Inside the car was powder explosives and assault weapons. Officers recovered three assault rifles, along with high-capacity magazines and ammunition, along with a "5-gallon bucket with chemicals capable of forming an improvised explosive device," the Santa Monica Police Department said.

According to unconfirmed reports, the powder was Tannerite.

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The car was described as a white Honda Acura sedan and was parked on the wrong side of a street.

Police also found a gas can, some camouflage gear and a backpack. The car had Indiana license plates and was covered with insect debris, as if it had been driven a great distance cross-country.

The FBI confirmed the arrest and said it is assisting the Santa Monica Police Department, but spokeswoman Laura Eimiller would not say more.

The arrest came hours after the deadly shooting in an Orlando club that killed 50 people and injured at least 53 others. Authorities identified the gunman as Omar Mateen, 29.

Seabrooks said there was no known connection between Howell and the Orlando shooting.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, West Hollywood Station said it is being vigilant but does not believe there are any threats to the event.

According to his Facebook page, Howell works at Clarcor Air Filtration Products Inc. in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He formerly worked at Universal Protection Services in Clarksville, Indiana. He left that job earlier this year, according the his profile.

— City News Service contributed to this report. Image: Santa Monica Police Department