Man arrested in pipe bomb evacuation allegedly had illegal gun
A 31-year-old man accused of having a pipe bomb that forced the evacuation of roughly 100 people overnight Monday in Paramount is a felon and also illegally had a short-barrel rifle, authorities said.
Antoine Wiley, 31, was booked on suspicion of an explosive device, possession of a short-barrel rifle, and possession of a firearm by a felon, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Reveles.
The bomb and rifle were found when deputies, responding to a service call, searched Wiley’s vehicle in the 7200 block of Richfield Street around 11:15 p.m. Monday, authorities said. Several nearby apartment buildings were evacuated after the discovery of the pipe bomb.
Residents were allowed to return to their homes around 3 a.m. Tuesday, Reveles said. No injuries were reported.
Wiley was being held Tuesday in lieu of $95,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, according to the sheriff’s inmate database.
For breaking news in Los Angeles and the Southland, follow @Caitlin__Owens.
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