Man arrested after tossing 13-foot python into Studio City restaurant

STUDIO CITY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A man tossed a 13-foot python inside a sushi restaurant in Studio City Sunday night, terrifying diners, police said.

Los Angeles police Officer Drake Madison said 46-year-old Hiroshi Motohashi had argued with an employee and stormed out of Iroha Sushi of Tokyo in the 12900 block of Ventura Boulevard.

"He had a small snake in his pocket and he was showing it to kids and other customers and some of them got scared," Iroha Sushi of Tokyo employee Sissi Dashdort said.

He returned with an even bigger snake, which he then threw into the restaurant before walking out around 6:30 p.m., according to officials.

Surveillance video showed frightened customers quickly gathering their belongings and running from the restaurant.

Responding officers arrested Motohashi on suspicion of making criminal threats.

No one was injured. The python was taken by animal control officers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report