Bomb squad is called after hazardous chemicals are found in van in H.B., police say; man arrested

A man was arrested in Huntington Beach on Thursday after officers found what they called hazardous chemicals in his van, police said.

Huntington Beach police received a report at about 4:15 p.m. of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Beach Boulevard and Terry Drive, said police spokeswoman Angela Bennett.

When officers pulled over the vehicle, they found hazardous materials inside, Bennett said. Police did not specify what type of materials were found but said the chemicals and equipment in the van could have been used to make an explosive device.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad was called, and the area was evacuated as a precaution, authorities said. However, authorities later determined the vehicle was not an immediate threat to the public.

Mark Winn, 65, of Lawndale was arrested on suspicion of possession of a destructive device, possession of a firearm with altered serial numbers, driving with a suspended license and driving without proof of insurance.

hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN