Cleveland police officers faced a potentially deadly situation Saturday evening when they responded to a call about four juveniles with what appeared to be a toy gun.
Police said officers were detailed to a location near Collinwood Recreation Center on Lakeshore Boulevard and when they arrived they found a young man with a weapon but he took off running when police questioned him.
While holding the weapon the juvenile ran from officers and then tossed it aside before continuing on foot. He was captured after a short foot chase.
Police identified the weapon as a .22-caliber handgun.
A police source said the officer’s actions potentially saved lives.
“This is exactly why we have to treat every gun that we come into contact as if they are real,” the source said. “Someone could have been killed thinking this real gun was fake.”
The juvenile, who police said is 16-years-old, was taken into custody and transported to the detention home.
