Boy Playing With Toy Gun In Car Leads To Wild Police Stop
POMONA (CBS) — Sheriff's deputies responding to a call about someone brandishing a weapon out of a minivan window in Pomona, found a child in a car playing around with a toy gun.
The California Highway Patrol says they received the call but that sheriff's deputies handled the call from the outset.
The boy, 7,was playing with a toy gun -- a rifle-like weapon -- in the backseat of his mom's vehicle.
Sky9 was overhead when the half-dozen police drew guns on the family.
The family declined to use their names and the boy's parents preferred we not show their son's face.
The car was pulled over on Chino Avenue at the Park and Ride next to the 71 Freeway.
At least six police cars came upon the car with guns drawn. As the boy's father said, "You can imagine the kids were scared out of their wits." He tried to remain more sanguine about the situation. "It was really a big mix-up over nothing." The mother chimed in, "It was total overkill."
Jeff Nguyen reporting for KCAL9, said the police said their actions were perfectly justified.
The parents were placed in the back of a squad car while police searched the vehicle. Only the toy weapon was found. The family was then allowed to go on their way.
No one was arrested.
The little boy learned a lesson. He told Nguyen that there would be no more playing with guns, outside. "Only inside, the cops said not to play with guns outside. Only inside."
