Sacramento-area man arrested in Las Vegas after reportedly causing airport panic

A Carmichael man held in a Las Vegas jail since Sunday after allegedly panicking airport patrons had been arrested at the airport a day earlier after causing a disturbance near an airport ticket counter, Las Vegas police said.

The loud sounds about 4:30 a.m. Sunday were mistaken as gunfire, CBS News reported, sending passengers at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport scrambling away from security lines. Yet more loud sounds reportedly echoed through the airport as people knocked over metal stands in their rush to flee.

Stefan Mathias Hutchison, 33, of Carmichael was first arrested at Harry Reid International Saturday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The Carmichael man was taken into custody on suspicion of misdemeanor counts of public conduct at an airport and resisting an officer. He later appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court and was released.

Hutchison returned to the airport early Sunday, reportedly causing the disturbance that sent airport customers fleeing and delaying flights. Hutchison was then arrested a second time, charged with burglary of a business, the Associated Press reported.

Airport screeners had to rescreen passengers, causing long lines, long flight delays and canceled flights.

Hurchison, held in Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, was expected to appear before a Las Vegas judge on Wednesday.