San Pedro man is arrested after derringer is found in carry-on bag at LAX

A man was arrested Friday afternoon at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of attempting to bring a small derringer handgun and ammunition in his carry-on bag onto an Alaska Airlines flight, authorities said.

The weapon was discovered at 5:40 pm. during the X-ray screening process for the Santa Rosa, Calif.-bound flight, officials said.

Timothy Geisen, 53, of San Pedro was booked on suspicion of possession of a concealed weapon, said Sgt. Belinda Nettles of the Los Angeles Airport Police. Bail was set at $35,000.

Nico Melendez, a Transportation Safety Administration spokesman, said that across the nation, about two guns a day are found in carry-ons. "It happens more frequently than you would think," he said.

In most cases, passengers simply forget where they stored their guns, said Melendez, who added that he did not know the circumstances of Friday’s incident in Los Angeles.

Melendez emphasized that legally owned handguns may be transported as checked luggage as long as they are unloaded, in a proper carrying case and the airline is notified.

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