Toy Rifle Leads To Motor Vehicle Stop In Lakewood: Police

LAKEWOOD, NJ — A man stopped by police after a citizen reported seeing him with a rifle was released after it was discovered to be a toy, police said Monday.

The man, a 22-year-old from Lakewood, was pulled over Monday afternoon after the person told police the man appeared to put what looked like a rifle in the back seat of his car, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

Police pulled the 22-year-old's car over but once they investigated, released him, Staffordsmith said.

The investigation found the rifle was a toy, he said. The man had been taking something else out of the car and the toy rifle fell on the ground, Staffordsmith said. That's when the citizen saw the 22-year-old pick it up and put it back in the car, he said.

"At no time did he point the toy at anyone or make any kind of threatening gesture," Staffordsmith said.

He emphasized that while this incident did not involve "any kind of nefarious act, we would like to commend the vigilance of the bystander who made the choice to report their observation."