Kids playing with toy guns held by police

CHUBBUCK, Idaho – Four children playing with two toy guns in the dark outside an apartment building were held at gunpoint by police before officers realized the replica assault rifles weren’t real.

Two police officers responded about 10 p.m. Wednesday after a woman called authorities to report what she took to be real guns.

Police cited the mother of one of the children, Loreen Tendoy, with obstructing justice. Tendoy told a reporter she reacted emotionally when police confronted the children, including her 13-year-old son, Tye Teton, his 11-year-old stepbrother, and two cousins.

Teton said police shouted, “Freeze!” and took the toy guns.

“We were trying to explain to them that they were toys and they said, ‘Shut up!’ ” Teton said.

Lt. Bill Guiberson said police couldn’t determine in the dark whether the children held M4 assault rifles or plastic imitations.

He said he understood Tendoy’s reaction, but also noted several shootings around the country, including a 19-year-old who killed eight people and himself at a mall in Omaha, Neb., on Dec. 5.

“Our biggest concern is public safety and the kids’ safety,” Guiberson said.

He said Chubbuck has a city ordinance against brandishing a replica gun “in a threatening manner” within city limits.