A man was arrested on Friday afternoon after he was seen waving what appeared to be a rifle in the parking lot of a grocery store in Oregon and yelling at bystanders.
It was later determined that the object was actually a bong designed to resemble a semi-automatic rifle, as stated by the police.
Authorities received reports that 47-year-old Jacob John Daniels was causing a disturbance in the parking lot of Albertson and Bymart stores around 12:21 PM, allegedly threatening people with what was initially thought to be a real firearm.
The Eugene Police responded swiftly, deploying patrol officers, drone teams, and armored vehicles to the scene, with assistance from the Eugene Springfield Fire Team.
Residents were advised to stay clear of the area, and an evacuation center was established.
When officers arrived, they confronted Daniels and instructed him to drop his weapon. At first, he complied, sitting on the curb and putting the object down. However, he later refused to follow further orders from the police.
To neutralize him without causing serious injury, officers utilized a sponge round. This was reported by local sources.
As they approached him, the officers deployed a 40mm round, leading to the arrest of Daniels. They confiscated the bong as evidence.
After being taken into custody, Daniels revealed to investigators that he intended to stage a trick and hoped to be shot by police during the incident.
He has been charged with disorderly conduct.
