Just after 2:40pm today, Sunday 7 August 2022, police received information regarding a man on King Street, Perth dressed in ‘SWAT’ clothing and who was in possession of an assault rifle and ballistic vest.
A short time later a second call was received in relation to a man inside a vehicle on King Street armed with a large firearm.
Several police units were deployed to the scene under emergency conditions and upon arrival a couple of minutes later a 31-year-old man was arrested without incident.
It has since been established there was no real threat to the community and the uniform the man was wearing was part of his adult entertainment work attire.
A firearm, believed to be a gel-blaster, was seized at the scene and will undergo further inspection to determine whether it is functional. The 31-year-old man has been taken into custody and is assisting with the investigation in relation to the seized firearm.
A WA Police Force spokesperson said while it is not believed there was an real threat to the community, the incident serves as a reminder regarding the seriousness of being in possession of, and the displaying of such items in public.
“The members of the public who called for police assistance had genuine concerns for their safety and the safety of others. The firearm in question looks very real and it would be very difficult for any member of the public to be able to determine whether it was in fact real or not.
“The investigation into the functionality of the seized firearm and the circumstances surrounding it being carried in public is ongoing.”
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