Play Gun in Court Nearly Calls Forth Hail of Real Bullets

A Sun Valley man facing a misdemeanor weapons charge brought a piece of evidence to court Monday that could have cost him his life.

The man, Glen Ervin Pyle, 44, was appearing before San Fernando Municipal Judge Michael S. Luros when he started to remove what turned out to be a plastic replica of a .357 Magnum handgun from a zippered bank bag.

Court bailiff F. Albert Zamacona said he heard Pyle tell Deputy City Atty. Susan Lopez, “I want to show you something.” Seeing Pyle pull the butt-end of the pistol out of the bag, the bailiff removed his service revolver, unlatched the safety and pointed it directly at Pyle, who was about 10 feet away, Zamacona said.

“I was going to shoot him,” Zamacona said, “but I told him to drop it, and he did.”

No Charges Filed

Pyle was immediately handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom. No charges were filed, however, because Pyle did not use the simulated weapon to threaten anyone, the judge said.

“He was apparently trying to explain his case to the prosecutor,” Luros said.

Luros ordered the case transferred to another judge because he had witnessed the incident.

Pyle is accused of one count of brandishing a weapon and one count of carrying a loaded gun. The self-employed construction worker was arrested April 23 after he allegedly threatened a man who he claimed was trespassing at his house, court records said.

Pyle, who is serving as his own attorney, is free on $5,000 bail.