Law and Order Actor arrested for accidentally carrying a concealed handgun through airport security

This guy's life may well be ruined for what is a simple mistake. However, he should have gotten a concealed handgun permit.

Los Angeles -- He's played a police officer on-screen and off, and now veteran actor Dennis Farina is on the other side of the law.

Farina was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport today when investigators say an unregistered handgun was found in his briefcase as he attempted to board an airplane. The gun was loaded at the time, police said.

Farina, 64, was described as "very apologetic and cooperative" by Airport Police as he was handcuffed at the United Airlines terminal, where he was booked on a flight to Chicago.

The actor told police he had driven in from Arizona to catch a flight to Chicago from LAX and that he had forgotten he had the gun in the briefcase. Farina, a former Chicago police officer, admitted he did not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon at the time of his arrest, police said.

He was originally charged with a misdemeanor weapons charge and was taken to the LAPD Pacific station, and his bail was first set at $25,000. But the charges were then upgraded to a felony, as the .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol was not registered.

Farina was transferred to the LAPD Van Nuys station, which is equipped to examine persons under a doctor's care. The new bail figure was not available from LAX Police, and LAPD would not comment. . . . .

UPDATE: The LA Times has this:

Actor Dennis Farina arrested for bringing gun to airport
The former 'Law and Order' actor, who tried to board a flight at LAX with a handgun, tells police he forgot it was in his briefcase.
By Jean-Paul Renaud
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

May 12, 2008

Dennis Farina is a bum shot.

Still, Los Angeles International Airport police took no chances Sunday with the former "Law and Order" actor, who was teased for his poor shooting skills during his earlier career as a Chicago police officer.

Farina, 64, was booked in a felony case after LAX screeners found a loaded handgun in his briefcase as he prepared to board a plane.

The actor, who is often cast as a foul-mouthed mobster or cop, was contrite when he told airport police and FBI agents that he had forgotten he put the .22-caliber semi-automatic weapon in the case, authorities said. He spent most of the day in a Van Nuys jail and was released on $35,000 bail.

"He was apologetic and very cooperative, and he said he understood what was going to happen," said LAX Police Sgt. Jim Holcomb. . . .