Monday, November 24, 2008

Judge's Son Released from Custody After shooting with Airsoft Gun

A local teen arrested after a deadly crash is being released from juvenile custody. 16-year-old Michael Mosley, son of District Court Judge Donald Mosley, will be going home. He was involved in a deadly crash that killed 15-year-old Coronado High School student Olivia Hyten.

Mosley will be released, but under the judge's order he will be under house arrest with a GPS tracking unit.

There have been allegations that Mosley and another driver were street racing when the other driver lost control of his vehicle and flipped over, killing Hyten. Although Mosley was not the driver of the car that rolled, police did find alcohol in his system as well as a spring loaded knife.

Mosley has been previously charged with reckless driving and possession of a firearm. Several months ago, he was found with an airsoft pellet gun on school property.

Both of Mosley's parents were in court pleading with the judge for their son's release.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Man found with toy airsoft gun undergoes mental evaluation

The man taken into police custody Wednesday when officers responded to a 911 call about a possible gun threat on the South Quad was transported to a local hospital for a mental evaluation.

Luitenant Roy Acree of the University Police, said the 26-year-old man was not a University student.

"According to the phone call he was walking south and yelling at himself. From that, we knew we might be dealing with a mental problem," Acree said.

The weapon apprehended during the afternoon dispatch was an Airsoft pellet gun, which Acree said looks similar to a real gun, other than the orange muzzle.

"He was located quickly and the situation was resolved," AcreeWithin two minutes, officers stopped the man on Gregory Drive, where they quickly determined that the gun was a toy, Christensen said.

"The officers did an outstanding job," he said.

The man had an Airsoft pellet gun, which can look like a real gun, usually except for an orange muzzle piece, Christensen said.

"People who have these in public place themselves in danger," Christensen said. "Officers cannot always determine that it's just a toy. They look very much like a real gun."

The guns are spring-powered and shoot small plastic balls, he said.

Police were initially sent to an area at the south end of the Quad near Foellinger Hall, Christensen said. The man was found on Gregory Drive and questioned by police. The man, who was not arrested, was taken to a hospital for mental evaluation, Christensen said.

The incident was resolved so quickly that the campus emergency notification system was not activated.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Police catch teens who held up teens

Novato police detectives on Friday arrested two 14-year-old boys who, along with another teen, brandished a knife and a realistic-looking “airsoft” pistol and robbed two other teen boys on the night of Nov. 9 on Rowland Way between the Carl’s Jr. fast-food restaurant and the Sonic Solutions office building.

Police were still looking Tuesday for the third suspect.

An airsoft pistol uses compressed air to shoot a plastic BB. Airsoft enthusiasts stage battles similar to paintball combat.

“I was glad to see that this was an airsoft pistol, rather than a real pistol,” said Novato police Lt. John McCarthy.

But he said wielding a toy pistol could be dangerous for thieves because there have been many occasions around the country in which police have opened fire on a suspect “ only to find out he had an airsoft gun.

“They look exactly like real (guns),” McCarthy said. “I don’t want that happening.”

The suspects stole a cell phone and some personal items from the victims and then ran to a Golden Gate Transit bus. They got off the bus at Alameda del Prado.

McCarthy declined to say whether the suspects were identified from security video footage taken aboard the bus.

“I can’t confirm that,” he said. “I don’t know whether - we had video or not.”

The victims, who were not injured, were 12 and 13. The stolen items were not recovered.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Ocular injuries associated with Airsoft guns: a case series.

Background: As Airsoft guns have gained popularity in Canada, there have been an increasing number of associated ocular injuries. This study reviews and evaluates the ocular injuries and effects associated with trauma secondary to Airsoft guns. Methods: The clinical records of 1232 patients seen by an on-call ophthalmology resident at the Royal Alexandra Hospital Eye Clinic were reviewed. Of these, 8 patients had ocular injuries involving an Airsoft gun.Results: All 8 cases were monocular injuries in male patients with a mean age of 18 years. Documented injuries included hyphema, corneal contusion, subconjunctival hemorrhage, lid contusion, corneal abrasion, traumatic iritis, commotio retinae, and traumatic mydriasis. Presenting visual acuities ranged from 20/15 to light perception. Interpretation: Injuries were confined mostly to the anterior segment and were not as serious as injuries reported from paintball and traditional BB gun injuries. However, hyphema was a commonly observed finding. Eye care professionals should be aware of the potential harm associated with injuries related to Airsoft guns.