Police arrest man after prop gun mistaken for real thing

A Bloomington man was arrested early Sunday after police thought the prop gun he had in his hand was an actual revolver. 

The arrest occurred at about 2:45 a.m., when an officer arrived as backup in the 200 block of North Walnut Street, Bloomington Police Lt. Faron Lake said.

While preparing to assist police dealing with another incident, the officer noticed Michael Griffin, 22, walking down the sidewalk with a female, Lake said. The officer saw Griffin was holding a gun in his hand.

The officer ordered the suspect to put down the gun, which appeared to be a revolver, Lake said. Griffin did not lower the assumed weapon, and the officer drew his own.

Again the officer told Griffin to drop the gun.

Instead, Griffin held the gun up, staring at it. The officer instructed the suspect one more time to lower the weapon and Griffin tucked the prop into his waistband.

After further inspection, the gun turned out to be a toy, Lake said — nothing more than a prop from a Halloween costume.

Griffin was arrested and faces preliminary charges of public intoxication and pointing a firearm.

— Jake New