Armed police arrested a 48-year-old man in Walton on Friday afternoon after reports of a man carrying a gun. Merseyside Police responded to City Road at approximately 2:50 pm on July 17 following a disturbance involving three men, one of whom was allegedly armed.
Officers detained a suspect at the scene and recovered an imitation firearm. No injuries were reported, and police confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Witness Accounts of the Incident
A neighbour told the ECHO: "We heard loads of yelling outside at around 3pm. A few minutes later, armed police units arrived. People were saying there was a man with a gun. There's often trouble around those flats. I heard yelling this morning too at around 4am coming from the same flats."
Another resident described the scene: "Loads of people started gathering around to see what was going on. It was a bit mad but it was all cleared up fairly quickly."
Arrest and Charges
The suspect, a 48-year-old man from the Walton area, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and affray. He remains in police custody for questioning.
Police are continuing searches to locate the other two men believed to have been involved in the disturbance.
Police Appeal for Information
Chief Inspector Andy Foster said: "To the untrained eye, an imitation firearm and BB guns can cause fear and harm to people who wouldn’t know the difference between them or a more dangerous weapon if confronted with one.
"We rely on information given to us by the public and this makes a huge difference in identifying suspects, seizing weapons and removing suspects who would bring lethal weapons onto our streets.
"It is vital that members of our communities come forward with information so we can make our communities safer for the decent, law-abiding people who live in areas affected by gun crime.
"Where people are willing to support the police, we will ensure every possible avenue is progressed to them. And if you don’t feel comfortable coming directly to the police call the independent, anonymous, Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111, we need to know who is involved in gun crime and where those guns are being stored."
Road Closure and Further Contact
A road closure was in place on City Road but has since been reopened. Anyone with information about gun storage in their community can contact Merseyside Police via X @MerPolCC, Facebook 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre', or the force's website. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always call 999.
