A man allegedly armed with a chainsaw in the back of a pickup prompted a standoff with Los Angeles police Tuesday in the Mission Hills area, forcing the closure of a major intersection.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and San Fernando Mission Road around 3:20 p.m. regarding a man armed with a chainsaw.
It was unclear what motivated the man to arm himself with the chainsaw, or to confine himself in the back of the pickup. He moved around occasionally during the standoff and at one point stood up with a pink laundry basket over his head.
No injuries were immediately reported.
The standoff was continuing as of 5 p.m.