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By Aaron McDade
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Matthew Ray Hancock, 36, was arrested Wednesday and is set to appear in court next week on charges of trespassing by driving a limousine through security at a Las Vegas airport while wearing a clown mask, and telling police he had a bomb before surrendering to authorities.
Hancock allegedly drove the limousine through the security barriers of the gates to a private air carrier at McCarran International Airport before he stopped near parked aircraft, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Witnesses said Hancock then exited the vehicle in a clown mask, told police and surrounding employees that he had a bomb in the car and was going to blow the airport up, which caused the employees to flee. Hancock then drove away.
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Later stopped by authorities, Hancock allegedly told them to refer to him as "the chosen one," according to Fox 5 Vegas and that he was planning to take a private plane to fly to Area 51, the famed Nevada military site that has long been a rumored site of aliens and UFOs online, to look for aliens.
He told police he had a shotgun and "gasoline device" in the car, and he would use them if they didn't let him take a plane.
Police said they arrested Hancock and determined the "bomb" was an oxygen tank with a pressure gauge, Christmas lights and other metal objects attached to make it look like a bomb.
In interviews, Hancock reportedly told police he had "high-security clearance," was involved with "the mob," and that someone owed him millions of dollars.
Hancock is charged with felony counts of making a terrorist threat and causing dispersal with a hoax and misdemeanor trespassing.
He was reportedly "disruptive" in refusing to make his first scheduled court appearance Thursday, so he is due to appear again next Tuesday.
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According to police, Hancock told investigators he was "Tik Tok famous" after having been stopped by officers Nov. 11 and ticketed for reckless driving with a limousine spinning its tires through traffic on the Las Vegas Strip, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Police said McCarran air traffic was "altered" during the incident.
A judge set bail at $150,000 and ordered house arrest with electronic monitoring if Hancock is released. A deputy public defender represented him temporarily. It was not clear Friday if Hancock had hired a lawyer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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