Gold Coast police arrest man with gel blaster at Upper Coomera intersection
Residents of a northern Gold Coast suburb say they were left shaken after a man pointed a “gun” at them while they were stopped at a busy intersection.
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Residents of a northern Gold Coast suburb say they were left shaken after a man pointed a “gun” at them while they were stopped at a busy intersection.
A video reveals the moment police tackled the man at the intersection of Old Coach Rd and Days Rd in Upper Coomera around 10pm on Thursday.
A Gold Coast police spokesman said they arrested the man, who was carrying a gel blaster, and paramedics took him to hospital for mental health assessment.
Gold Coast resident Leanne Porter said she was on her way home from McDonald’s when she spotted what she thought was a machine gun pointed in her direction.
“I literally froze. My brain was telling me to get down but I froze,” she said.
“It all happened so fast. He pointed the gun at them (police) and then they pulled theirs I think.
“He throws his gun down and then jumped on him.
“I’m still shaking. I’m surprised he didn’t get shot.”
Other witnesses said the man had previously walked in front of their car with the large weapon.
“Mass adrenaline ran through me because while he had the gun pointed at police I was still on the same side of the road as them, as soon as I got the green I went across the intersection to a safer spot,” Tom Meschede said.
Jannine Ellice said “it doesn’t matter if it was a gel blaster or not, he should have not been at an intersection waving or pointing it around”.
“I hope everyone who witnesses it is OK as it would have been scary and can trigger emotions and fear.
“Hope the offender is also OK as no one knows what he is going through at this time.”
Originally published as Gold Coast police arrest man with gel blaster at Upper Coomera intersection
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