Hollywood Script Rejected, Then Blown Up

Aug. 11, 2011— -- Hollywood script writers are used to cold rejection letters. But one frustrated writer saw his script rejected, left in an alley and then blown up. Now that's cold.

Beverly Hills Police said they were dispatched at 9:14 a.m. to investigate a suspicious briefcase that was left at a commercial building by a script writer.

Lt. Tony Lee, Beverly Hills Police public information officer, who did not release the man's identity, said that the writer is not well known.

"If he were well known screen writer, I don't think that office would have ignored him," Lee said.

Arie Eric Amir, general manager of the Global Business Center building on 468 North Camden Drive, said the man was waiting in front of the building for an hour before it opened. He finally came into the office around 9 a.m. looking for Rima Greer, a Hollywood agent for 25 years who is now president of Above the Line Agency.

Script Rejected, Then Detonated

In describing the male, Amir said, "He behaved a little bit neurotically. He came up and was looking for one of our tenants. The tenant refused to see him… He said, 'If she doesn't want to see me, I want to leave this for her.'"

The building's receptionist offered the man an envelope, then a fed-ex box, in which to leave his belongings. The man refused both, opting instead to leave behind his "very fancy" briefcase, along with the combination lock with which to open it. Then, he left. The receptionist took the briefcase to Amir, who placed it in the alley next to his building and then called Greer.

"She said, 'I'm not going to read this,'" Amir said. "She refused to come and said, 'Call the police. They will take it.'"

Beverly Hills police officers evacuated adjoining offices and closed nearby streets, causing traffic jams in the area. According to Amir, police called Greer who said, "I'm not going to talk to him, he's been stalking me."

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Bomb Squad then detonated the briefcase as a safety precaution.

"They blew the briefcase open and then examined the contents afterwards and decided that it wasn't an actual bomb threat," said Sgt. Brad Cornelius, who was active watch commander during the incident.

Rather than a bomb, police confirmed that the briefcase contained a laptop and several sheets of paper. During that time, they were also able to locate the script-writer, who was visibly distraught when his briefcase exploded.

"I think anyone would be distraught if personal possession was detonated," said Lee.

The writer was detained at the scene by officers who questioned him. Police released the suspect once they determined that no crime was committed.