East Windsor police are warning people of the danger of carrying BB airsoft guns in public after a recent arrest because police could mistake them for real guns when making split-second decisions.
Their warning is in response to a motor vehicle stop during a suspicious vehicle call in which police seized a black BB pistol that looks like a real gun.
Nicole Barnard, 28, of Manchester, was arrested on a weapons charge.
On Wednesday at about 9 a.m., a citizen flagged down police to report a suspicious vehicle parked on Winkler Road in East Windsor near the train tracks. The occupants of the car were throwing beer cans out the window, the citizen told police.
The car began to leave the area as officer arrived. Police stopped the car soon after that.
Police discovered a black BB pistol and crack pipe in the car and seized both.
East Windsor police charged Barnard with having weapon in a motor vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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Police said the BB pistol looks like a real firearm until police can closely examine it and pick it up. The East Windsor department released the photo of the BB pistol to "remind citizens that although not real, BB and airsoft guns pose a danger to the police because it is hard to identify them as not real when making split second (sic) decisions."
"Although children were not involved in this specific case, it is important for parents to monitor their children with these guns to explain to them the potential dangers," East Windsor police said.
