64-year-old man arrested after pointing what looked like a gun at Gresham drive-thru on Halloween

Gresham police Wednesday arrested a 64-year-old man who was wanted for allegedly pointing what appeared to be a gun at a car full of people after he attempted to cut in line at a Taco Bell drive-thru on Halloween night.

David Mead was located and taken into custody after police received “multiple tips” from the public following the release of a photo of the suspect, according to police.

Detectives believe that the weapon Mead allegedly had on the night of the incident was a device that uses compressed air to fire “irritants or kinetic projectiles.” The device looks like a traditional firearm, police said.

“While it is not illegal to possess this kind of self-defense tool, displaying it or any replica firearm during a dispute can cause the situation to escalate and may lead to criminal charges,” Gresham police said.

Mead, who was booked into Multnomah County Jail, faces charges of unlawful use of a weapon and menacing.

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