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Sanibel police respond to call about resident with alleged gun

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PHOTO PROVIDED The Sanibel Police Department received a call about possible shots fired on June 5. Officers located a BB gun that was a replica of an assault rifle, with the orange portion of barrel painted over in black.

The Sanibel Police Department received a call about possible shots fired on June 5.

Officers responded to a residence on the east end of the island, according to officials. The caller said she heard shots and that her neighbor was walking around with an assault rifle-type weapon.

Upon arrival, officers secured the scene and investigated.

Police located a BB gun that was a replica of an assault rifle, officials reported. The orange portion of the gun’s barrel had been painted over in black, making it indistinguishable from an assault rifle.

The resident was not charged.

“Although this was not an illegal situation, it creates an extremely dangerous position for our citizens and officers to be in,” Police Chief William Dalton said. “This situation was completely avoidable.”

He urged citizens to use good common sense and be prudent when it comes to gun safety.