Madison police officers arrested a 29-year-old man near the northern edge of Capitol Square Friday afternoon for hassling pedestrians and brandishing what officers thought was a shotgun.
The man, Kristopher R. Breister, was acting aggressively toward people, mocking them and lunging at them as they passed by, according to a Madison Police Department incident report. The report said Breister was violently swearing at pedestrians, scaring some of them away.
Police intervened as Breister approached a group of people on North Butler Street, according to the report. An MPD detective parked his vehicle in the way, inciting Breister to swear at the detective as more officers arrived.
Breister turned into an alley, where he allegedly reached into his coat and grabbed for a false shotgun as police followed.
Responding officers managed to subdue Breister safely, according to the report, and are charging the 29-year-old for disturbing the peace.
