The blog of the events by the guy in question (quote below):
http://blog.jeremybell.com/2009/12/03/so-i-got-arrested-by-the-swat-team-last-night/
First, a picture of the Lego gun in question:
This is a picture that the person who called it in took from his window:
(Source)
http://blog.jeremybell.com/2009/12/03/so-i-got-arrested-by-the-swat-team-last-night/
First, a picture of the Lego gun in question:
If you happened to be walking by my office last night, you may have noticed a little police activity. A co-worker said she saw at least 6 SWAT, 2 uniformed officers, 2 undercover and a chopper in the air. I’ve since been told that the surrounding streets were blocked off with five cop cars in total, two ambulances, and a dozen cops all taking positions of cover around the office.
Ya, I’m a little embarrassed to say this was all for me, as last night I got arrested by the SWAT team because of a Lego gun.
Here’s the story…
A few weeks ago, I purchased a kit online to build a replica gun out of Lego. It doesn’t do much (other than clearly look real), but I’ve always been a fan of Lego so I decided to pick it up. I wish I had a decent reason for purchasing it, but I don’t. For shame, I suppose.
It arrived yesterday and at the end of the day, I decided to put it together. I literally assembled it, handed it to a co-worker (who promptly broke it) and then put it back in the box.
The SWAT arrived shortly thereafter.
A few of us were still at the office playing Modern Warfare 2, when we heard this intense yelling in the hall. We originally thought there was some sort of domestic dispute out there… that was until I clearly heard my name. The guy sounded seriously angry and was instructing me to slowly come into the hall with my hands on my head? Ya, this can’t be good.
I sheepishly opened the door to see what was going on, only to discover a SWAT member crouched in the stairwell yelling at me and another directing a small mirror into the hall. The guy in the door had a weapon with a flashlight pointed at me, so I couldn’t really see what was going on, but I was instructed to put my hands on my head and turn around. With my hands up, I had to lift my shirt and slowly spin around. Once they confirmed I wasn’t packing any Lego heat, I walked backwards towards them, was then cuffed, pulled into the stairwell and thrown against the wall.
I was surrounded by about 6 SWAT guys armed with shotguns and assault rifles. At this point it seemed like a good idea to inquire why I might be in custody. Apparently I had been reported with a gun.
“Guys, seriously? It’s Lego. It’s in a box—in pieces I might add—by my desk at the front.” Two SWAT members kept me firmly pressed against the wall, while the others went into the office in search of the so-called weapon.
“We found it…. it’s Lego.”
And with that, I was uncuffed.
I certainly can’t knock the police for how they responded, I mean the toy certainly looks legit. However, it wasn’t like I was walking around downtown with it. I didn’t actually do anything with it, but someone thru a window saw me assembling it and they called the police. From afar I can see how it would look legit, although I certainly wasn’t waving it around.
I don’t know exactly when the SWAT team was sent in, but it didn’t take them long to surround the building. I can’t imagine what would have happened had I walked out there, but apparently they grabbed another guy who was exiting the building, cuffed him and threw him against the police van. I hope he’s ok… I feel horrible.
Thankfully that’s all that happened… no shots fired.
This is a picture that the person who called it in took from his window:
(Source)
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