Man arrested at OKC protest after smoke bombs found

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma City police believe a man arrested at a protest of recent police-involved shootings wanted to cause mass panic using eight smoke bombs he was carrying in a bag.

Police spokesman Capt. Paco Balderrama said Monday that 24-year-old Brandon Lara was arrested Sunday on felony counts of attempting a terrorism hoax and possessing an explosive or incendiary device. Police also cited misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace and being masked or disguised in public.

Police say they stopped Lara, who is white, after seeing him walking around the Black Lives Matter OKC protest with his face covered and a bag slung over his shoulder. Police say they searched the bag and found eight commercial-grade smoke bombs.

Police say Lara told them he identified with the sovereign-citizen movement, an anti-government ideology.