Police: Man arrested before LA Pride parade had arsenal that posed 'grave danger'

An Indiana man arrested before Sunday’s LA Pride parade in West Hollywood was armed with enough fire power to pose “a grave danger to both persons and property” police said in court documents released Tuesday.

James Howell, 20, allegedly had a 25-pound container of an explosive called Shoc-Shot, which is sold commercially to blow up targets, police said in what’s called a “statement of facts in support of request to increase bail.” Howell’s bail had been set at $500,000, but Los Angeles County prosecutors plaed to request Tuesday that it be increased to $2 million.

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The document also said that ingredients in the explosive had been mixed together, and if they would have been subjected to a high-velocity impact from a rifle round would have exploded.

“I know based on my training and experience that the amount of explosives in the container would have posed a grave danger to both persons and property had the explosive been detonated, either intentionally or accidentally, in a public space,” wrote Santa Monica Police Det. Derek Leone.

Santa Monica police officers arrested Howell in a case that the FBI is now assisting on.

Howell was charged with one count each of unlawful possession of an assault weapon, possession of a destructive device on a public street and manufacturing or importing a large magazine and one misdemeanor count of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, the D.A.’s office said.

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Howell, who has no coection to Santa Monica, was taken into custody Sunday in the 1700 block of 11th Street, after police received an early moing call of a suspicious man who was knocking on doors and windows.

His car was loaded with three rifles, several high-capacity magazines full of ammunition, and chemicals that could be used for improvised explosives, including taerite, police said.

The statement to increase bail offered more specifics about the weapons. Among the three rifles, for instance, was an AM-15 .223 caliber rifle. The AR-style assault weapon was loaded with a 30-round magazine, and had a second magazine taped to the first, according to the document. Such a weapon is illegal in Califoia, Leone said.

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Howell also allegedly had a loaded .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle, which was loaded, police said. The third gun was a .22-caliber Ruger semi-automatic rifle.

The detective also stated that inside Howell’s Acura was a black hood that “could have been used to conceal the defendant’s face,” along with a Taser, handcuffs, a buck knife, a security badge, and additional ammunition for the rifles. The document said there was “also a 5-gallon container of gasoline.”

Leone added that Howell “poses a significant danger to the community” and was a flight risk.

Howell was charged on the weapons charges and set for hearing today in Los Angeles Superior Court.