13-year-old charged after looking at pellet gun near credit union

Police rushed to a Cedar Rapids credit union this afternoon, thinking that a boy outside was ready to rob it.

But officers quickly learned it was merely a bad decision.

Police Lt. Tobey Harrison said the 13-year-old boy found a pellet gun and stopped to look at it in front of Dupaco Credit Union, 3131 Williams Blvd. SW, around 12:50 p.m. Credit union employees called police, unsure of the boy's intentions.

Responding officers stopped him by grassy area a few blocks away.

Harrison said the boy never entered the credit union and did not use the pellet gun to threaten anyone.

"It was just a brain fade," Harrison said.

Darian Gossett, 13, will face a charge for carrying the pellet gun and for having tobacco in his possession, police said. Carrying a pellet gun in public is illegal in Cedar Rapids, following an ordinance passed recently.

"The bank did a great job," said Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman. "They called right away and gave a great description."

Hamblin did not know if the pellet gun was loaded.

The boy was released to the custody of his mother.

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Here's a Gazette story from May 27 on the passage of the law making pellet guns illegal to carry in public in Cedar Rapids:

Toy guns are being used in Cedar Rapids crimes, from criminal mischief to assault, and the city has changed an ordinance to control their use.At the urging of police, the City Council has made it a misdemeanor offense to carry a loaded BB gun, air gun or pellet gun in the city limits. Juveniles cannot have the guns at all, loaded or unloaded, unless they are under adult supervision.Police Capt. Bernie Walther said people have used the toy guns in hopes the victims will think they are real. It is easy for anyone, including a police officer, to mistake them for the real thing, he said."It makes no sense for anybody to be carrying one of things out in public, unless you're going to the range to do some shooting," Walther said. "That's all there is to it."Three juveniles allegedly brandished an Airsoft gun, which uses compressed air to shoot plastic or metal pellets, when they robbed a 20-year-old man March 29. The robbery resulted in an assault causing very serious injuries to Officer Tim Davis, who responded to the call.But most problems are with criminal mischief. Walther said damage to car windows during the past six years added up to about $1.4 million, at $200 per window. During one weekend in late February, BB guns were used to shoot out more than 150 car windows.The ordinance was updated less than two weeks later, on March 11. There were fewer criminal mischief complaints during spring break this year than in the past, said Cedar Rapids police Chief Greg Graham.The penalty for carrying any loaded weapon in the city, including the toy guns, is up to a $625 fine and as many as 30 days in jail. Six people have been cited since the ordinance was toughened.Before the change, it was only illegal to discharge a BB gun or similar toy guns in the city -- requiring officers to catch people in the act.

At the urging of police, the City Council has made it a misdemeanor offense to carry a loaded BB gun, air gun or pellet gun in the city limits. Juveniles cannot have the guns at all, loaded or unloaded, unless they are under adult supervision.

Police Capt. Bernie Walther said people have used the toy guns in hopes the victims will think they are real. It is easy for anyone, including a police officer, to mistake them for the real thing, he said.

"It makes no sense for anybody to be carrying one of things out in public, unless you're going to the range to do some shooting," Walther said. "That's all there is to it."

Three juveniles allegedly brandished an Airsoft gun, which uses compressed air to shoot plastic or metal pellets, when they robbed a 20-year-old man March 29. The robbery resulted in an assault causing very serious injuries to Officer Tim Davis, who responded to the call.

But most problems are with criminal mischief. Walther said damage to car windows during the past six years added up to about $1.4 million, at $200 per window. During one weekend in late February, BB guns were used to shoot out more than 150 car windows.

The ordinance was updated less than two weeks later, on March 11. There were fewer criminal mischief complaints during spring break this year than in the past, said Cedar Rapids police Chief Greg Graham.

The penalty for carrying any loaded weapon in the city, including the toy guns, is up to a $625 fine and as many as 30 days in jail. Six people have been cited since the ordinance was toughened.

Before the change, it was only illegal to discharge a BB gun or similar toy guns in the city -- requiring officers to catch people in the act.

Uncle Stan's Military Surplus in Marion sells Airsoft guns. Employee Ben Kramer said the guns are very popular with kids "because they look very real."