Call center workers at a downtown Los Angeles building that houses the LA Times newspaper were nervous and teary-eyed as police searched for a man who made threats to harm his former coworkers. Robert Kovacik reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. Friday, April 18, 2014.
Police arrested a man on Friday who they said was depressed and threatening workers inside the downtown LA building used by The Los Angeles Times.
The incident prompted police to set up a perimeter to search for the man, said Sgt. Mark Gibbens of the LAPD Central Station.
"All we know is we were on alert," VXI Global Solutions Call Center employee Rita Brown told NBC4. "All the doors were closed and locked, and we were asked to stay from windows and doors just to make sure that this person doesn't come in."
The man worked at the call center, which is on the third floor of the LA Times building.
Even though no weapons were found, police feared he had a gun.
"We were completely nervous," Brown said. "Tears were coming from our eyes because we didn't know."
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Sources told NBC that a depressed individual set off the search by the LAPD. Officials later found a box of bullets.
"I guess he got in trouble for some cell phone thing, because you're not supposed to have your cell phone on the floor," employee Xavier Bettis told NBC4. "And when they released him from duty, he sent a text message saying he was going to come back with vengeance."
The company shares space in the building, located at Second and Spring streets, but is not associated with the newspaper.
