Two Los Angeles film students were arrested Sunday evening for causing a scare that shut down the very busy 101 Freeway for 10 minutes. Taylor Hubenthal, 19, and Chase McIntyre, 20, were dressed in army gear and were carrying fake weapons, and one's face was covered by a gas mask, reported the Los Angeles Times.
More than 10 calls were received by 911 reporting a perceived threat when they saw the two men with weapons standing on the Chesebro Road overpass, said the L.A. Country Sherriff's Department. The freeway was subsequently shut down for a short period of time while a helicopter was deployed and several police cars made way to the scene, said the L.A. Times.
The students were not a source of danger — they were just dressed up to make a movie for a class at Moorpark College where they both study film. Both cooperated with law enforcement and explained their situation, but they were still arrested. They were then booked with misdemeanor charges, including brandishing a replica firearm and causing a false emergency. Both Hubenthal and McIntyre were bailed out later that day, reported the L.A. Times.
"While the intentions of these two individuals might have been harmless, the fact that anyone would appear in a public place displaying a replica firearm is troubling. These two men put themselves and our community at risk," said Sheriff's Department Capt. Patrick S. Davoren, according to the New York Daily News.
Lt. AJ Rotella, also of the sheriff's department, said that "it appears on the surface that this is innocent in nature. Obviously, they should have gone through the process to get a permit, to prepare a community for a film. That was not done." He added that, though 10 minutes seems harmless, in a city like L.A. that relies so heavily on freeways, it caused a major disruption, reported KTLA.
