California ER evacuated in bomb scare

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PANORAMA CITY, Calif., March 4 (UPI) -- Police evacuated patients in a California emergency room after a man said he had a bomb and left a duffel bag inside the waiting room, officials said.

A bomb squad blew up the suspicious baggage, which was later determined to contain clothing, not explosives, KABC-TV, Los Angeles, reported.

Police said the man, whose name was not reported, entered the emergency room at Mission Community Hospital Sunday in Panorama City and was acting erratically. He allegedly told hospital staff members he had a bomb, and they called police, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"He's looking around, making it look suspicious. His hands were in the wrong place. He had a bag on him that looked like, you know, something might be in there," said witness Junior Jamil.

Police ordered that 31 patients and approximately 10 employees be moved to another part of the hospital while they investigated the suspicious bag, KABC reported.

Police arrested the man but no charges were reported.