Man arrested after pointing replica gun at passing drivers
Update: In the end, Berkeley police determined that the weapon, which looked like a pistol, was actually a lighter, BPD said.
Police in Berkeley have arrested a man who was reported to be waving a gun at motorists on Sacramento Street on Saturday evening.
Officers ultimately used less-lethal rounds to take the man into custody when he refused to comply with commands at the scene, Berkeley police said in response to a Scanner inquiry.
In the end, police determined that the weapon, which looked like a pistol, was actually a lighter, police said.
The incident began in the 1600 block of Sacramento Street, near Cedar Street, at about 5 p.m. when a caller told police that a man was "brandishing a firearm at passing motorists."
Police quickly responded and found the man "holding what appeared to be a pistol."
The man "immediately threw the weapon to the ground," police said, but "continued to challenge" officers and "refused to comply" with their commands.
Police tried to use verbal instructions to de-escalate the situation but ultimately "deployed less-lethal rounds to gain compliance," BPD said.
The man was taken into custody without further incident.
No additional details were immediately available.
Stay tuned for updates.
This story was updated after publication when more details became available.
