Scott A. Smith: Man arrested after allegedly bringing bag of weapons into Ohio movie theater

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Posted: 08/07/2012

By: Paul Kiska, newsnet5.com

WESTLAKE, Ohio - An Ohio man was arrested Saturday night after police say he brought weapons into a movie theater.

Scott A. Smith, 37, entered the 10 p.m. showing of 'The Dark Knight Rises' with a bag full of ammo and knives, according to Westlake police.

Jeremiah Bullins, an off-duty Westlake police officer, noticed and searched Smith's bag. He found three knives in the bag, as well as a loaded 9 mm Glock handgun, two additional loaded magazines, and a fourth knife under his clothes. Each magazine had 17 rounds.

Police said Smith was the first person in the theater at the time of his arrest but up to 80 people would have been there 20 minutes later. He was sitting in the last row in a middle seat. This was a “tactical position,” according to officers, his back to the wall and facing out.

They said Smith made no threats and was taken into custody without incident.

Smith has a wife and 1-year-old child, according to police. They said they searched his North Ridgeville home and found many weapons, including eight additional guns, lots of ammo, a gas mask and bulletproof vest.

Smith was charged Monday with four counts of carrying various weapons for each of the knives, one count of carrying a concealed weapon with no permit for the Glock and one count of carrying a weapon while having a disability.

Westlake Police Detective Lieutenant Ray Arcuri told CNN Smith has no criminal record but was in the military for "a very short time." Arcuri also said Smith was on medication but the type cannot be released.

Police said they do not yet know a motive.

Smith is being transferred to a county jail and may be arraigned Wednesday.

The incident comes just more than two weeks after 12 people were killed when James Holmes allegedly opened fire at a midnight showing of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ in Aurora, Colorado.