A Swindon man was found to be ‘squeaky clean’ after armed police were deployed to reports of a gun being brandished in the street.
Firearms officers were called to Clouts Wood in Peatmoor following a call from a concerned member of the public at around 11.15am today (Sunday).
The reporting person told the police that the suspect had been carrying a long-barrelled gun in the street, before going into a property.
Armed police gathered on a nearby industrial estate, where they equipped themselves with rifles, baton guns and ballistic helmets before travelling to the address.
South Western Ambulance Service also sent an operations officer and dispatched a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) from Bristol.
At 12.15pm firearms officers knocked on the suspect’s door – shouting for him to come out with his hands on his head. Moments later, he emerged.
He complied with officers, who handcuffed him before arresting him on suspicion of being in possession of an offensive weapon.
The man shouted: “It’s a vacuum, it’ll show you it, it’s broken as well.” A short investigation revealed the item was indeed a vacuum cleaner, it’s understood.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said that they responded after “reports that a man had been seen carrying what was believed to be a firearm”.
They said that following the officers’ attendance and further enquiries on scene, the force is “pleased to confirm that no firearm was involved”.
Adding: “Thank you to the public for reporting their concerns.”
