LAX Chief Admits to Lapses in Man’s Release

After several days of criticism and review, top law enforcement officials say a recent incident at Los Angeles International Airport--in which a heavily armed man was allowed to go free even though he tried to take weapons through a security checkpoint and was wanted on an out-of-state felony charge--should have been handled better.

They also stress, however, that despite some lapses, airline passengers were not put at risk because the man’s guns were seized and stopped before they were taken onto an airplane.

“Maybe there was some oversight,” conceded airport Police Chief Gilbert Sandoval, whose officers questioned Mark Lawrence Kulp on Sept. 2. “We learned from those oversights, and we’re taking action to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

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In particular, Sandoval said his officers were wrong not to realize that one of the weapons being carried by Kulp was an assault pistol and that his attempt to take the gun out of the state on a flight to Minnesota warranted arresting him. Instead, Kulp’s guns were seized along with more than 100 rounds of ammunition, knives, a ski mask, a fake sheriff’s badge and handcuffs, but he then was allowed to go on his way.

Kulp was arrested several days later in Minnesota, where he was wanted for allegedly threatening police officers--a fact known when he was detained at LAX. Authorities in Minnesota tracked Kulp down after he called airport police in Los Angeles seeking the return of his weapons; he gave the police his address, which they passed along to Minnesota police, who then used it to find and arrest Kulp.

Sandoval has previously defended the actions of his officers and continued to last week. But the chief did acknowledge that training in recognizing illegal assault weapons was insufficient. As a result, Sandoval said he directed supervisors to read officers the relevant laws on assault weapons during three days of roll call sessions. In addition, the chief said all his officers will review a special training videotape on identifying assault weapons.

Sandoval continued to argue, however, that his officers were not wrong in their interpretation of state and federal laws that they believed precluded them from arresting Kulp for the misdemeanor offense of carrying concealed weapons. The chief said that because officers did not see the bags containing the weapons placed on the X-ray machine, they could not attest to the fact that they belonged to Kulp.

Kulp, however, acknowledged that the bags were his and signed a property receipt for the guns, knives, ammunition and other material. In addition, a security videotape of the area might have given officers evidence that it was Kulp who placed the bags on the machine.

Sandoval also has said that his officers could not arrest the man for trying to carry a loaded weapon onto an airplane because the guns were not loaded at the time. But Kulp, according to police reports, was carrying guns and ammunition, and had he succeeded in getting through the security check, the weapons could have easily been loaded later.

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All that has caused some officials to express astonishment that he was not arrested on the spot. City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, whose district includes the airport, has demanded a report from Sandoval and other officials, and other authorities have questioned the actions of the police. “There was probable cause to detain [Kulp],” said Ted Goldstein, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney’s office, where authorities are reviewing the case and deciding whether to file charges.

Although Goldstein would not comment on the prospect of charges being filed, he added: “Seemingly, there are sections in the penal code and in federal law that are being explored in a possible prosecution.”

Meanwhile, other agencies are reviewing their role in the Sept. 2 incident as well.

Tim McNally, special agent in charge of the Los Angeles FBI, said he was concerned about the process that allowed Kulp to go free rather than be placed under arrest.

Specifically, McNally said that had agents known of the types of weapons and the amount of ammunition, they might have checked with a prosecutor to see whether there was enough to justify holding Kulp.

Despite the controversy that has engulfed the incident, Sandoval continued to stress that no guns, knives or ammunition made it past the security checkpoint. In that sense, he said, the public should be reassured that security systems are functioning well.

“The system worked,” Sandoval said. “He presented himself at the screening station, and he was detected there.”

The chief added that he has not received official notice of Galanter’s motion calling for him and other officials to report to her committee. “If I’m called upon,” he said, “I will of course provide any information that I can.”