Bremerton man's lighter mistaken for a gun

A 19-year-old Bremerton man was arrested Sunday for threatening his ex-girlfriend with a butane lighter shaped like a pistol.

The man had repeatedly returned to the residence of the 19-year-old woman after 11 p.m. in the 3400 block of Spruce Avenue, yelling and accusing her of "snitching" on his brother, who was arrested at her residence the previous night, according to Bremerton Police reports. The man tossed artificial flowers on her front porch and kicked her barbecue, sending parts across her yard. The woman told police the male "seemed high."

When the man arrived at the residence a third time after the woman repeatedly told him to go away, he lifted his shirt to reveal what looked like a pistol in his waistband.

Police found and arrested the man at a nearby 7-Eleven. He told officers he only came to the woman's door to borrow her phone and ask for a cigarette. He called the lighter in his pocket a "toy" and claimed he found it near the Dollar Store. Police removed a small silver metal pistol from the man's pocket and found it was a lighter. He was booked into the Kitsap County jail for investigation of felony harassment.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.