Bomb Scare Alarms Customers At Mission Viejo Bank

MISSION VIEJO, CA — On Friday afternoon, a man entered a Mission Viejo bank claiming to have explosives, authorities say.

The man, believed to be experiencing homelessness, was later arrested, according to Orange County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun. His name was not released as of this report.

At noon on Friday, a suspect entered the One West Bank on Marguerite and Crown Valley Parkway, Braun said.

"He placed some items on the bank counter and said that they contained gun powder," she said. The man did not threaten anyone and did not demand money, according to reports.

When the sheriff's department was called, he gathered his belongings and left.

"Deputies in the area quickly located the man, carrying a backpack, and detained him," she said.

The suspect said that his backpack was carrying a bomb, and the Orange County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad was called to the scene.

Bomb Squad officials examined the backpack, finding it free of explosives. The suspect was arrested and taken to jail without incident.