Police carting assault rifles and responding to what they thought was a complaint of a homeowner wielding a handgun were shocked to learn that the man was actually touting something far less threatening: a tattoo.
The Associated Press reported that police were called Tuesday to Michael Smith’s home in Norridgewock, Maine, by a tree crew working on his property who said he confronted them with a gun in his waistband.
But the “gun” was actually a life-sized tattoo of a pistol, drawn on his stomach.
Mr. Smith, who works nights, said he was awoken about 10 a.m. by the noisy contractors who were hired by a local power company, AP reported. He went outside shirtless and ordered them to leave — with half the tattoo visible, setting off the brief situation.
Police did not charge him with anything, AP reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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