A 56-year-old Redondo Beach man who was arrested in connection with a suspicious package found at the Torrance Courthouse was identified Monday.
Anthony Ray Garcia was taken into custody Friday in the 2200 block of Belmont Lane in Redondo Beach. Detectives served a search warrant at Garcia’s residence and arrested him on suspicion of using a destructive device, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The Torrance Courthouse was evacuated Wednesday in response to the suspicious package found at the building, but no injuries were reported.
Personnel at the courthouse were alerted at 7 a.m. and the suspicious package was located about 30 feet from the main entrance of the building on Maple Avenue, just north of Torrance Boulevard, the sheriff’s department said.
Torrance police and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies initially responded to investigate the suspicious device, and representatives from the FBI arrived later.
Video from the scene showed a bomb squad robot approaching and using an orange inflatable to detonate the item near a bench outside the building’s front entrance. A note was also found alongside the item.
Sheriff’s officials declared the area safe around 10:15 a.m., but the building remained closed for the remainder of the day.
Garcia was booked at the Torrance Police Department on $500,000 bail.
Anyone with additional information was urged to contact the Sheriff’s Arson Explosives Detail at 323-881-7500, Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.