Local 14-year-old is charged.
By: Rebecca Tokarz
A 14-year-old Dayton boy was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on April 10 after a customer in a convenience store saw the teenager drop a gun that later turned out to be a realistic-looking toy firearm.
Police said arrested the boy about two blocks from the Wawa market on Georges Road. The boy, whose name was withheld because of his age, was released to his parents pending court action.
Police were called to Wawa at about 4:40 p.m. after a customer reported seeing the boy drop what appeared to be a handgun from his waistband or pocket while in the store, said Police Department spokesman Jim Ryan.
Detective Ryan said the boy then picked the gun up and placed it back in his pocket before walking out of the store.
The witness called police with a description of the boy. Responding officers found the boy about two blocks from the Wawa, Detective Ryan said.
The police officers who stopped the boy initially found it difficult to determine if the gun was real, he said.
"The officers found the boy to have a toy handgun. It was hard to distinguish if it was a real gun from a toy," Detective Ryan said.
He said the boy had no intent to use it for illegal purposes while in the Wawa.
Detective Ryan said the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office was contacted and recommended that the boy be charged.
"There was no legitimate reason for him to have one on him," Detective Ryan said.
He said that although the incident was a false alarm, walking into a convenience store with a gun of any kind is not a good idea.
"Even if he only had it on him, imitating a firearm in that capacity is dangerous," he said.

