The discovery of a potentially explosive device forced the evacuation of about 100 people in Paramount late Monday night.
Deputies detained a man that was described as "possibly mentally ill" on the 7200 block of Richfield Street around 11:15 p.m. after receiving calls that a man was driving up and down the street with a rifle. Officials recovered a rifle and potentially explosive device in the van, according to Lakewood Sheriff’s Department Lt. Eric Lindblom.
As a precaution, officials evacuated several apartment complexes on Richfield Street an Exeter Street while bomb disposal experts worked to disarm the potentially explosive device.
The device was rendered safe around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. Officials did not find any additional potential explosive devices in the residence of the man who was detained.
NBC4's Toni Guinyard and Oleevia Woo contributed to this report.
