Boston man wearing body armor busted with luggage of weapons at Los Angeles Airport

Los Angeles, CA, United States (4E) – A 28-year-old Boston man strapped with a bullet-proof vest and carrying a suitcase full of weapons was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport last Friday.

Authorities reported that Yongda Huang Harris was traveling from Japan to Boston when he was stopped by customs agents for a secondary baggage inspection after an officer noticed that he was wearing a body armor.

The suspect, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese descent, was questioned if he has something to declare in his checked luggage.

Harris claimed he had a knife but the officer discovered a cache of weapons including a smoke grenade, three leather-coated Billy clubs, a collapsible baton, a full-face respirator, various knives, a hatchet, a biohazard suit, handcuffs, and a gadget to repel dogs. An assortment of masks, duct tapes, flex cuffs, oven mitts, leg irons and cooking tongs were also found.

The man from Boston, who is working in Japan, faces one count of transporting hazardous materials because the Los Angeles Police declared that the smoke grenade is prohibited on board passenger aircraft.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison.

Harris made his initial court appearance last Tuesday. He is represented by criminal defense attorney Steven A. Seiden, who also represented the controversial anti-Islam film maker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula.

Authorities said that investigation are continuing and believe Harris does not have any link to any terrorist organization.

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