Man Arrested At Oakland Airport For Suspicious Watch

A man from Southern California was wearing a watch with switches, wires and fuses.

A Southern California man trying to fly out of the Oakland International Airport on Thursday evening was arrested at a security checkpoint when a TSA agent spotted a watch he was wearing that looked like a timing device for a bomb, authorities said on Friday.

Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. J.D. Nelson said the watch had a toggle switch and wires and fuses, and all that looked suspicious to the Transportation Security Administration. The man, Geoffrey McGann, he was at the Terminal 2 checkpoint at about 7:45 p.m.

A bomb squad was called, but crews determined there was no explosive device attached to the watch.

Investigators said McGann was also wearing shoes that were two sizes too big.

McGann lives in Rancho Palos Verdes. 

He flew in from LAX earlier in the day and was attempted to fly home when he was arrested for being in possession of material to make a destructive device.

He remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, Nelson said.  His motive remains a mystery.

He told police the watch was "art."

Contact Us