Photo: Image of Air Soft Gun collected during arrest | Folsom PD
Last Sunday, December 17th, dispatchers at the Folsom Police Department received multiple calls about a suspicious male reportedly talking to himself while brandishing what appeared to be replica firearms at two different locations. Responding to the calls, Folsom police officers located the individual as he was leaving the Folsom Aquatic Center. They followed him at a safe distance until sufficient patrol units were assembled, ultimately initiating a high-risk traffic stop at the intersection of Blue Ravine Road and Prairie City Road.
Upon being stopped, the suspect began waving a toy gun out of the sunroof of his vehicle. Subsequently, he exited the vehicle and engaged in erratic behavior, dancing in the street while disregarding verbal commands from the officers. The situation escalated further when the suspect moved to the trunk of the vehicle and produced what appeared to be a black AR-15 pistol. He removed the magazine, waved it around without pointing it at the officers, and then threw it to the ground.
Facing a rapidly evolving and potentially dangerous scenario, Folsom police officers formulated a plan to bring the situation to a swift and safe conclusion. Utilizing a shotgun loaded with non-lethal projectiles, an officer discharged a beanbag round at the suspect, striking him on the left side. This distraction allowed officers to safely approach and take the individual into custody without further incident.
Upon further investigation, it was determined that the AR-15 pistol was, in fact, an incredibly realistic airsoft gun. The man, identified as a resident of Arizona, was arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Jail on charges of resisting/obstructing a peace officer. Additionally, he was placed on a mental health hold.
