VC Police Chief explains incident

Valley City, ND (WDAY TV) – The sight of a man playing with airsoft guns with kids in his front yard prompted the Valley City Police Chief to pull his gun.

WDAY TV reports, Chief Fred Thompson says he was driving by a home on October 10th when he saw a man holding what appeared to be an AR-15 rifle and children diving behind things. He drew his weapon from about 100 feet away and ordered the man to drop the weapon. When he realized his mistake, Thompson says he explained the misunderstanding to the man.

No weapons were fired and no one was injured.

Thompson says the incident had nothing to do with his recent announcement that he is resigning in January.

The man who reportedly had the gun drawn on him did not respond to a request for comment.