Two teens were taken into custody Thursday night after the manager of the Doubletree Hotel reported the two suspects had a gun, which was actually a BB gun.
According to Lt. Dave McCaw of the Madison Police Department, the manager of the Doubletree, located at 525 W. Johnson St., reported that a black teen wearing a gold coat had pointed a gun at her. While she was on the phone with the 911 center, she reported the gun was handed to another black teen in a wheelchair who was waving the weapon toward the Palisade Apartments.
The 15-year-old youth in the wheelchair told police he threw the weapon onto a porch of a nearby house when he heard police were coming. The house, McCaw said, was the residence the other teen had gone into.
Police arrived at the scene to find the teen in the wheelchair outside the house since he was unable to enter the residence without assistance. Both teens were taken into custody and were transported to the Juvenile Reception Center. The suspects, whose names will not be released, were charged with disorderly conduct while armed.
McCaw said the police were unaware the weapon was a BB gun until they tried to unload it.
When the officers picked up the weapon, they thought it was a real gun,"" McCaw said.
Sgt. Jennifer Krueger Favour of the MPD said the teens were both students at Madison East High School. Krueger Favor said no one was harmed and there was no property damage, but the case is still under investigation.
McCaw commended the 911 center for their efforts in the case. ""The 911 center was so quick on this case, which ultimately made this apprehension possible,"" McCaw said. ""If we did not have the instantaneous communication with the dispatch center, this case may have slipped away.
