An officer in Middelburg drew his service weapon during the night from Friday to Saturday, because an object resembling a firearm stuck out of a boy’s trouser pocket during a check. After the suspect was searched, it turned out to be a water pistol, the police reported on Instagram.
The police had responded to a report of noise pollution in the Zeeland capital. Officers found young people who appeared to be heavily intoxicated. Upon seeing what appeared to be a firearm, one of the officers decided to draw his service weapon.
An officer writes on the Instagram page of the Walcheren police that the water pistol was sticking out of a trouser pocket. ‘Given the circumstances, I drew my service weapon. The suspect was then checked and searched. It turned out to be a water pistol.’
According to police, the dark conditions made the object indistinguishable from a real firearm. The water pistol was confiscated and the person who had it was ticketed.
Police emphasize that the incident shows how dangerous the use of toy weapons can be.
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