Doug Lindley/Idaho State Journal
Modern BB guns can look a lot like real firearms.

By Debbie Bryce

For the Journal

IDAHO FALLS — A standoff with Idaho Falls police ended without injury Sunday after a 56-year-old man threatened his neighbor with a BB gun that looked like it was a real gun.

David C. Grose for is charged with assault following the incident that occurred in the 1100 block of Lovejoy around 5 p.m.

According to Idaho Falls police reports, Grose threatened his neighbors with a gun over a parking dispute. The victims told police Grose had been waving a gun around demanding a van be moved because it was blocking his driveway.

Victims also stated Grose shot the gun as the van was being moved.

Officers attempted to contact Grose at his residence for several hours but were unsuccessful.

The Idaho Falls Police Department SWAT team responded around 8 p.m. Grose finally responded to police and exited his residence at about 9:30 p.m. without incident.

Officers seized a BB gun that resembled a Smith and Wesson M&P40.

Local sheriff’s said that’s a good way to get killed.

“It’s hard to tell the difference in a split second,” said Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen.

Nielsen said toy gun manufacturers are required to color the tip of the barrel, but he said, the rule doesn’t apply to pellet and BB guns.

The sheriff said all weapons, including BB guns and pellet guns, should be handled and transported as if they are an actual firearm. They should be locked up when not in use.

“I can understand the caution that (Idaho Falls) used in the incident,” Nielsen said.

The incident Sunday was the second incident involving a BB gun in about a week. Last week Idaho Falls respond to a call of neighbor threatening a dog with a BB gun.

Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland said there is no way for law enforcement to tell if a weapon is real from a distance and he said every weapon is considered dangerous.

Rowland said a high-powered pellet gun might not penetrate a bullet-proof vest, but it could cause serious injury to the face or lower body.

“Every weapon is considered dangerous,” Rowland said. “Especially if you’re going off a witness statement.”

Grose remains incarcerated at the Bonneville County Jail.