Police accuse man of BB gun threat

ROCKLAND – A city man was arrested Tuesday night after allegedly aiming a BB gun at a police officer on Main Street.

Alan Bernardo, 19, called police at 11 p.m. Tuesday and asked Officer John Bagley if it was legal to possess a BB gun on Main Street, Deputy Chief Wallace Tower said Wednesday.

The officer told Bernardo it was legal, but not smart, Tower said.

At 11:20 p.m., Officer William Smith was driving his cruiser down Main Street in front of the Farnsworth Art Museum when “Bernardo pointed the [BB] gun in the direction of Officer Smith,” Tower said. “Smith responded by pointing a real gun at him.”

Bernardo was arrested and charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, Tower said, noting Smith reported that the BB gun looked like a real 9 mm handgun.