Friday, Aug. 17, 2012

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) -- Police say a Georgia man arrested after he tried to bring a loaded handgun into a Columbus movie theater was "not a terrorist" and appears to have meant no harm.

Columbus police Lt. Bill Rawn said off-duty officers found the gun and 60 extra rounds of ammunition in the laptop computer bag of 23-year-old Joshua Vardeman. Officers asked to search his bag after he bought a ticket late Thursday to a midnight screening of the movie "The Expendables 2."

Rawn says Vardeman cooperated with police and added: "I don't see intent to hurt anybody in his actions."

Rawn says Vardeman had no gun permit, so police charged him with three misdemeanor violations. Vardeman did not have a listed phone number and it was unknown if he had hired an attorney.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)