Police stop Levant (ME) man with toy gun on I-95

This article illustrates why having guns on our front car seats, as required by amended substitute H.B. 12, is a bad idea.

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Tuesday, July 1, 2003

Police stop Levant man with toy gun on I-95

WATERVILLE — A 20-year-old Levant man was ordered from his car on Interstate 95 at gun point Sunday by a trooper of the Maine State Police after other motorists reported he had a handgun in the car.

The gun turned out to be one of two plastic toy guns in the vehicle, but the situation was initially a tense one, the trooper said.

"It was a plastic handgun, but I pulled the guy out of the car in the appropriate manner for if it had been a real gun," Trooper Aaron Hayden said. "We don't take chances."

The situation developed after motorists in a vehicle saw the man holding what appeared to be a handgun while driving north on I-95 south of Waterville, Hayden said.

Although the man did not point the gun at them, the motorists called police to report the sighting, Hayden said.

Hayden got into position on I-95 near Exit 34 and pulled the man's car over when he approached, then ordered him from the car at gun point.

Trooper Bruce Scott backed Hayden up on the call, and Waterville police Sgt. Daniel Ames and Officer Ryan Reardon also responded.

The car was searched, and the two plastic guns were found.

The man said he must have been moving one of the toys from the back seat to the front when the motorists saw him, Hayden said.

"There's going to be no charges," Hayden said, adding he spoke to the District Attorney's office about the incident Monday before making that determination.

Police did not identify the Levant man because he was not charged.

Click here to read the story from Blethen Maine Newspapers.