Gun parts found in stuffed animals at R.I. airport

Gun parts found in stuffed animals at RI airport

Associated Press – 12 mins ago...

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — Police at Rhode Island's T.F. Green Airport said Tuesday that a domestic dispute was behind an incident in which gun components and ammunition were found hidden inside a child's stuffed animals, including a Mickey Mouse.

Authorities later allowed the 4-year-old boy and his father to continue their travel to Detroit after concluding the man didn't pose a risk, authorities said. He told police that he didn't know the parts were inside the stuffed toys.

"It appears to be the result of a domestic dispute," Rhode Island Airport Police Chief Leo Messier said in a statement. "It was jointly investigated by the RI Airport Police, FBI and the RI State Police and it was determined that there was no threat at any time to air safety."

Officials with airport police and the Transportation Security Administration declined to comment further, saying the incident remained under investigation.

The man and his son were headed to Detroit when a TSA officer noticed the disassembled gun components "artfully concealed" inside three stuffed animals. The stuffed animals, including a teddy bear and a rabbit, were inside the child's carry-on bag, which had been put through an X-ray machine as part of normal security screening.

Authorities said a .40-caliber gun was found inside one animal, while a magazine loaded with two .40-caliber rounds and a firing pin were found inside a second animal. Another part of a gun known as a slide was found inside the third animal.

The parts could have been assembled to make a full firearm, authorities said.

The items were confiscated. Police have not released the man's name.

A message left with the FBI late Tuesday was not immediately returned.

Gun parts found in stuffed animals at RI airport - Yahoo! News

Gun in toys at RI airport was 'custody dispute'

Associated Press – 16 mins ago...

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island airport officials say a man whose child unknowingly had gun parts and ammunition hidden inside stuffed animals in his carry-on bag was involved in a custody dispute.

Authorities say federal transportation agents found the items Monday when the man and his 4-year-old went through security at T.F. Green Airport. The man said he didn't know the items were there.

An airport spokeswoman says he was detained for three hours and let go. He continued traveling Tuesday.

Airport officials released a statement Wednesday calling it a "domestic custody dispute."

Airport police, state police and the FBI are investigating.

The Transportation Security Administration and FBI declined to comment Wednesday. State police referred questions to airport police. Airport Police Chief Leo Messier didn't immediately return a message Wednesday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

A man whose child unknowingly had gun parts and ammunition hidden inside stuffed animals in his carry-on bag was detained this week at Rhode Island's T.F. Green Airport for three hours before being released, officials said Wednesday.

Authorities said federal transportation agents found the items Monday when the man and his 4-year-old went through security. The man, who has not been identified, said he didn't know the items were there.

Airport Police Chief Leo Messier said in a statement Tuesday the case "appears to be the result of a domestic dispute," but he didn't elaborate. Airport police, state police and the FBI are investigating.

The Transportation Security Administration said the man and his son were headed to Detroit when a TSA officer noticed the disassembled gun components "artfully concealed" inside three stuffed animals: a teddy bear, a rabbit and a Mickey Mouse.

One animal contained a .40-caliber gun, while another had a magazine loaded with two .40-caliber rounds and a firing pin. A third animal contained another part of a gun known as a slide.

The parts could have been assembled to make a usable firearm, authorities said.

Patti Goldstein, an airport spokeswoman, said the father was detained for three hours and let go. He continued traveling Tuesday.

The TSA and FBI declined to comment Wednesday. State police referred questions to airport police. Messier didn't immediately return a message Wednesday.

Gun in toys at RI airport was 'custody dispute' - Yahoo! News