Shirtless man damages vehicles with bat in Van Nuys

A man wielding a bat and chain was taken into custody Thursday after allegedly damaging vehicles on a Van Nuys street.

Officers were dispatched around 7:50 a.m. Thursday to reports of an armed, shirtless man in the 14700 block of Gilmore Street near the intersection of Kester Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The man was hitting vehicles on the street and refused police orders to drop the bat, according to the LAPD.

Video from the scene showed the man appearing agitated in the street outside Van Nuys High School, with officers nearby pointing what appeared to be bean-bag or other non-lethal weapons at the suspect. The school was apparently placed on lockdown, although LAUSD schools are not currently in session.

Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.

Officers flanking a slow-moving patrol car eventually moved in on the suspect, who walked slowly backward into a neighborhood, where he was taken into custody.

No injuries were reported. The suspect's name was not immediately available.

Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok