Denver man arrested in LA had knives and explosives

ByMICHAEL EDISON HAYDEN ABCNews logo
Monday, February 20, 2017

A Denver man who was arrested in West Los Angeles Thursday, possessed weapons and explosive devices, law enforcement officials told ABC News.

The man -- identified Friday as Adam Nauveed Hayat, 35, of Denver, by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California -- was found with knives and possibly flew to L.A. while following an ex-girlfriend, according to police.

In addition to the knives, law enforcement found explosive devices at a Sheraton Hotel in downtown Denver, where he had stayed. None of the devices were detonated prior to being found.

Hayat made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Friday afternoon where he was read his rights and advised of the charge pending against him. He was ordered held without bond and ordered removed to Colorado. He will eventually be transferred by the U.S. Marshals Service for further court proceedings.

Hayat is charged with one count of possession of firearms not registered with the National Firearms and Registration Transfer Record. The penalty on that charge is not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.

He is a veteran of the U.S. military and served in Iraq and sources close to the investigation told ABC News that the man had sent letters to Veterans Affairs complaining about his treatment by the agency.

Investigators were trying to determine whether the man was on the radar of law enforcement agencies prior to his arrest.

He was arrested at a Holiday Inn on La Cienenga Boulevard, which is a major thoroughfare that runs North to South through Los Angeles.

ABC News' Julie Sone contributed to this report.

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