Video footage shows suspect hit by stun gun in LAX bomb scare

Video posted on YouTube shows the clearest view yet of an incident Sunday at Los Angeles International Airport in which a suspect was hit with a Taser after he ran into the Tom Bradley International Terminal and claimed he had a bomb in box.

The incident, which occurred around 5 p.m. Sunday, unfolded after the suspect grabbed a box belonging to an unidentified passenger at the check-in counter and then began screaming that the package contained a bomb, according to Los Angeles Airport Police.

The terminal was evacuated but one witness pulled out a video camera and began filming. The footage shows five airport police officers surrounding the man before one points a stun gun at him and hits him with a heavy jolt of electricity. The suspect is later tackled to the ground, the footage shows.

The terminal was evacuated for 20 minutes while officers checked the package with police dogs. It did not contain explosives, authorities said.

Investigators said the man, who was underwent medical and psychiatric evaluations, may have been wanted to commit "suicide by cop," according to sources familiar with the incident.

-- Andrew Blankstein

Video: Footage of Taser incident posted on YouTube

Comments

[That Guy]

That man's little boy was either scared out of his wits at all this or really excited to see police and firemen.

[Flagwaver]

Remarkable restraint on the part of the officers. A highly charged situation where decisions had to be made quickly - and they responded with great professionalism. My had is off to them.

[John]

By "tackled", I guess they mean a cop punched him and then fell on him

[Verballistic]

This fool is lucky he was only tasered for doing such a foolhardy move...he could have been shot dead & would have had nobody to blame but himself.

[chuck]

I love the crowd reaction. It is fortunate for this suspect that the police had an opportunity to spare his life. It would be hard to decide to use a Taser instead of a gun on a subject with a suspected bmb.