Police confiscate airsoft rifle at Burlington encampment
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Burlington police responded Wednesday night to reports of a man with a gun at the Sears Lane homeless encampment.
In a release, they said they received the call at 6:04 p.m. from the Burlington Fire Department, who were there responding to a medical call.
Fire officials told police that Michael Bessette, 30, was pointing what appeared to be an AR-style rifle at them from about 100 feet away. EMS crews and the patient they were responding to quickly left the scene.
Bessette was issued a citation to appear in court for the criminal offense of simple assault.
Police say the weapon police confiscated turned out to be an airsoft-style rifle, or pellet gun designed to shoot projectiles made of plastic. Police said they are still investigating.
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1 man arrested in drug raid at Burlington homeless encampment
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