Close Call! Real-Looking 'Replica' Gun Nearly Causes Officer-Involved Shooting

An Oakland man had a replica firearm that resembled a real weapon when he confronted police after he failed to stop his bicycle for a moving violation Tuesday, Fairfield police said.

Roderick Harris, 40, was subdued with a Taser because of his aggressive behavior, Officer Rebecca Belk said.

The replica handgun in his shoulder holster looked real because the red safety tip was removed, and Belk said the incident could have become an officer-involved shooting.

The incident began when an officer tried to stop Harris for the moving violation on his bicycle around 6:30 p.m. in the 200 block of E. Tabor Avenue, Belk said. Harris fled on foot and ignored orders to stop, turned toward an officer and took an aggressive fighting stance, Belk said.

After Harris was shot with a Taser, an officer noticed what looked like a firearm magazine on the ground, Belk said.

When Harris was taken into custody, officers noticed the replica firearm with the red tip removed in a shoulder holster Harris was wearing Belk said.

“Carrying this replica gun with the red safety tip removed, concealed in the holster, during nighttime hours could have led to tragedy, Belk said.

“This is dangerous to the officers, Mr. Harris and the community at large,” Belk said.

Because Harris was uncooperative, the situation could have escalated to an officer-involved shooting,” Belk said. Belk said police are asking the public to consider this scenario when deciding to purchase replica firearms.

--Bay City News

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