Maine man’s ‘gun’ turns out to be a tattoo
In this Tuesday, March 18, 2014 photo, Michael Smith, left, stands beside a Somerset County Sheriff deputy outside his home in Norridgewock, Maine. Officers armed with assault rifles descended on Smith's home after members of a tree removal crew he'd told to clear off his property reported that he had a gun. The "gun" the tree crew had seen on Smith actually was a life-sized tattoo of a handgun on his stomach. (AP Photo/Morning Sentinel, David Leaming)
In this Tuesday, March 18, 2014 photo, trooper Scott Duff trains his rifle toward the home of Michael Smith in Norridgewock, Maine. Officers descended on Smith's home after members of a tree removal crew he'd told to clear off his property reported that he had a gun. The "gun" the tree crew had seen on Smith actually was a life-sized tattoo of a handgun on his stomach. (AP Photo/Morning Sentinel, David Leaming)
NORRIDGEWOCK, Maine — Police armed with assault rifles descended on a Maine man’s home after members of a tree removal crew he’d told to clear off his property reported that he had a gun.
Turns out the “gun” the tree crew had seen on Michael Smith of Norridgewock was just a life-sized tattoo of a handgun on his stomach.
Smith, who works nights, was asleep when the tree crew contracted by a utility to trim branches near power lines, woke him up at about 10 a.m. Tuesday.
He went outside shirtless and yelled at the workers to leave. When he’s not wearing a shirt, the tattoo looks like a gun tucked into his waistband.
Smith tells the Morning Sentinel the tattoo has never been a problem before.
Police didn’t charge him.
