Navy man with gun said it wasn’t his

Published 3:31 pm Friday, May 27, 2011

A 26-year-old Navy man, in uniform, told Bremerton police investigating gang activity May 20 on Lebo Boulevard that the pistol found in his pocket wasn’t his, but he had just picked it up off the ground where it had been dropped.

Police had received a complaint from 911 dispatchers of a large group of males, about 10, many wearing red, were gathering near Lyons Park at about 2:16 p.m.

When police arrived, the group scattered. The Navy man was handcuffed and searched.

When police found the gun in his pocket, the man explained that he was in the area to visit a friend. While others were fleeing from police, the man noticed the handgun on the ground, as it had been dropped.

The man told officers he was not sure why he picked up the gun and put it in his pocket.

The gun was confiscated and a report was forwarded to prosecutors for review.