POINT ARENA, Calif. – A North Coast teenager has found himself in trouble after displaying an air soft pistol in a public place in such a manner that law enforcement believed it was a real handgun.

The 14-year-old male from Point Arena was arrested Sunday, according to a report from Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

Shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday Mendocino County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to an area of the Point Arena Elementary School regarding a male subject observed with a handgun, Smallcomb said.

Smallcomb said the person who made the report told deputies that he had observed an individual pointing a handgun around as if he was going to shoot someone.

The first deputy on scene located a subject matching the given description on the school grounds, and saw a black-colored handgun in his hand, Smallcomb said.

Smallcomb said the deputy pointed his firearm at the teen and told him to put down the gun. The male subject didn't obey the command but instead ran around the corner of a building before coming back with it still in his hand.

The deputy repeated his command to put the gun down and for the teen to get on the ground, which he eventually did, with the deputy then handcuffing him, Smallcomb said.

When the deputy further inspected what he believed to be a handgun he found that it was a black colored Umarex "HK USP" air soft-style pistol, which Smallcomb said was nearly identical to an actual firearm.

After the arrest the deputy discovered the subject was 14 years old, said Smallcomb.

He said charges for display of an imitation firearm in a public place are pending. The completed portion of the investigation will be forwarded to the district attorney for review.

Smallcomb said the agency wanted to advise the general public that display or exposure of a imitation type firearm is not only dangerous, but it is also against the law.

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