Homeless man in custody following LaGuardia evacuation

(NECN/ABC) – The trouble began when a homeless man — 32-year-old Scott McGann — arrived at a LaGuardia Airport terminal. A relative had purchased a ticket for him, but even before he reached a security checkpoint he aroused suspicion. Authorities said they received two calls about an intoxicated or suspicious passenger who was “acting crazy.” When confronted by airport police, McGann remained silent, and then apparently depressed a makeshift trigger. Port Authority police overtook him and ripped a duffel bag from him. The bag contained batteries and wires, but no explosives. Authorities took no chances and began the evacuation of the main terminal of one of the nation’s busiest airports. Hundreds of travelers were moved away from the terminal, waiting on the access roads of the airport. The roads around the airport were closed, offering passengers little choice but to wait it out. Finally, at about 9 a.m., after a 4-hour wait, passengers were let back into the terminal and operations resumed. About two dozen flights were canceled, many more were delayed — as were flights from around the country headed into LaGuardia. The suspect remains in police custody, facing charges including placing a false bomb in a transportation facility, and making terrorist threats. ABC’s Jeremy Hubbard reports.