Chase suspect claims to have bomb in Porter Ranch
A portion of the 118 Freeway was shut down Friday evening in Porter Ranch as law enforcement officers investigated a bomb threat on the roadway after the end of a pursuit.
Earlier Friday morning, a suspect tried to break into Chatsworth High School, threatening to shoot up the school and made bomb threats. School police chased the suspect driving a van, but lost him.
Law enforcement located the muddied van Friday evening, around 9 p.m. in Porter Ranch, where the suspect led police on a chase. The pursuit ended near the Tampa exit in the middle of the 118 Freeway.
The suspect claimed to have explosives inside his van, prompting a bomb investigation which closed all lanes of the 118 Freeway in both directions.
Around 10 p.m. lanes in the westbound direction were re-opened. Commuters on the eastbound side of the freeway were stuck, unable to exit while the investigation continued.
The suspect was taken into custody, and no explosives were found.
All lanes of the freeway reopened Saturday morning.