Victoria police are warning of the dangers of replica firearms after seizing one in the wake of a fight involving five males in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue Wednesday night.
Alerted about 9 p.m., police arrived to find that everyone had left, but were told by security guards in the area that one person had been holding what appeared to be a handgun.
Officers located a suspect nearby and detained him at gunpoint, after he refused to comply with their commands, police said.
After the arrest, officers found the firearm and determined it was a Glock-branded pellet gun.
The man opted to leave the pellet gun with police when they explained how dangerous it could be, VicPD said.
Officers in situations involving firearms have to make “split-second, life-or-death decisions” about how to respond, so for safety reasons, they treat all firearms as real until proven otherwise, police said in a statement.
Of the 80 firearms seized by Victoria police so far this year, 47 have been replicas, police said.
VicPD encouraged the public to continue reporting to police if they suspect someone is in possession of a firearm in public.
Replica guns aren’t illegal, but can cause alarm — especially when tucked into a waistband or if they are visible from pockets or bags, the department said.
