Armed Man, Threat of Explosives Shuts Down 215 Freeway

A gold SUV remained near the center divider on southbound Interstate 215 at Ethanac Road after a bomb squad searched it for explosives Sunday morning. A suspect was taken into custody. Menifee 247/ photo: Doug Spoon

Story updated at 5 p.m.:

Interstate 215 was shut down for almost five hours from McCall Boulevard to Highway 74 this morning after the California Highway Patrol received reports of an armed man near the center divider, authorities said.

The incident was first reported at 5:40 a.m., according to a CHP news release. Multiple motorists reported a man walking along the center divider, pointing a rifle at them just north of McCall Boulevard in Menifee.

CHP officers responded and the suspect was taken into custody without incident. A rifle was found at the location where he attempted to hide from officers. The suspect, Antonio Caesar Lopez, told officers there was something dangerous in his vehicle, which was parked at the center divider of southbound 215 just north of Ethanac Road.

A perimeter was established as the freeway was shut down, causing long delays for many motorists. Northbound traffic was diverted at Ethanac and southbound traffic at Highway 74. As a precaution, a Sheriff's bomb squad was called in to inspect the vehicle, which was cleared at 11 a.m., when the freeway was re-opened.