Ex-boyfriend of Santa Monica weapons suspect says he pulled gun on him

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- An Indiana man arrested in Santa Monica on Sunday after several guns, ammunition and dangerous chemicals were found in his car had several run-ins with police before.

James Howell, 20, was taken into custody after officers said they found three assault rifles, high capacity magazines and bomb-making materials in his vehicle.

MORE: Suspect with arsenal in car in Santa Monica was on probation

A woman said her son noticed Howell's white Acura parked against traffic about 3 a.m. on Sunday near the corner of 11th Street and Michigan Avenue.

Police said they responded to the scene after receiving a tip about a possible prowler who was knocking on doors. Police stated Howell told them he was there for the Los Angeles Pride festival.

According to police reports obtained by ABC7, Howell had several brushes with the law in Charlestown, Indiana, which is just outside of Louisville, Kentucky.

The documents state police responded to several domestic disputes between Howell and his now ex-boyfriend.

"He had pointed an assault rifle right at me in the front yard and the police was there in five minutes," Howell's ex-boyfriend, who is 17 years old and asked that his identity not be revealed, said.

Howell's ex-boyfriend said they met online in the fall and moved in together just weeks after they started dating. He said Howell had never been with another man before him, and that Howell seemed troubled.

"It wasn't natural how much he had been crying," the teen said. "So I thought he's a hurt person, you know. He just wants somebody to care about him so I tried to be that person and I got guns pointed at me for it."

According to the ex-boyfriend, Howell also threatened to harm him during one of his work shifts at McDonald's.

Howell was arrested after he threatened to shoot his neighbor in Indiana with a .44 caliber Smith and Wesson on Oct. 15, 2015, according to police reports.

The Indianapolis Star reports Howell was charged with a felony charge of pointing a firearm and a misdemeanor charge of intimidation.

In April, Howell pleaded guilty to intimidation, and the Indianapolis Star reports the pointing a firearm charge was dropped.

Howell was sentenced to one year of probation, according to the Indianapolis Star, and part of the condition was he would "forfeit all weapons" during the one-year period.

Howell was being held on $500,000 bail and was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.