Man Held in Threat to ‘Blow the President Away’

A man who came to an airport near President Reagan’s ranch and told an airline employee that he wanted to “blow the President away” was placed under 72-hour mental observation, police said Thursday.

Larry David Colvig, 33, of Willits in Mendocino County, was taken into custody at the Santa Barbara Airport about 6 p.m. Wednesday, police Lt. Don Williams said.

Colvig got off a flight, went to the Imperial Airlines counter and told an employee that the President was expecting him, police said.

“Colvig . . . stated he was a black belt in karate and was going to blow the President away,” according to a police account of the incident.

Williams said that the man was unarmed. Colvig was questioned by the Secret Service and taken to the Santa Barbara County Mental Health Care Center for observation.

Williams said that the Secret Service would decide whether to file charges. “The threats on the President are a federal crime,” he said.

Reagan is in the midst of a three-week California vacation. He was in Los Angeles on Wednesday and was expected to remain there through Saturday.

An airport official who refused to be named said that Reagan uses the Santa Barbara Airport only in bad weather. Usually, he is flown to the ranch by helicopter from Point Mugu Pacific Missile Test Center, she said.