The Los Angeles City Hall was evacuated Friday afternoon after a man drove onto its steps and displayed a note that appeared to be addressed to President Donald Trump.
Officers received reports of a suspicious vehicle and responded to the building just after 4 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The driver barricaded himself inside the car and displayed hand-written signs that read “Don’t Want To Hurt No Body” and “I NEED UR HELP D TRUMP U.S. VET,” KTLA reports. The driver also appeared to be holding an oxygen tank.
A SWAT team tried to establish communication with the driver, an adult male, after he refused to leave the vehicle, the LAPD said. After speaking with LAPD crisis negotiators, the driver was seen getting out of the car and walking toward officers with his arms raised, according to KTLA.
Two hours after he drove onto the steps, the man was taken into custody “without further incident,” the LAPD said.
Police said there were no immediate reports of injuries. The surrounding streets and freeway off-ramps were also closed as officers responded to the scene, the Los Angeles Times reports.
“The police investigation is complete,” the LAPD said at 8 p.m. local time. “All streets will be open shortly.”
Officials have not released the driver’s identity.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she was briefed on the incident and that City Hall had been evacuated “out of an abundance of caution.” She later confirmed the situation was resolved “safely.”
“The suspect outside of City Hall is now in custody and the LAPD bomb squad is on the scene,” she wrote on X. “Thank you to all of the brave first responders who safely resolved this situation with compassion and urgency.”
