Police this week arrested a man they say had been openly carrying an AR-15 rifle in Lincoln and calling 911 on himself, pretending to be a concerned citizen.Ìý
The first call on Benjamin Brantner, 19, came Tuesday, when someone alerted police to a man walking around University Place with a rifle, Officer Angela Sands said.
Five officers rushed to the area, Sands said, because the caller sounded afraid and they were suspicious. They arrived at 48th Street and Walker Avenue and determined Brantner was lawfully carrying the rifle, Sands said.Ìý
On Wednesday, police fielded a similar call, this time near 31st and Randolph streets. That call came from the same phone number that had previously reported Brantner's activity.Ìý
Officers learned the phone number belonged to Brantner, Sands said, and they responded to the area and found Brantner with his AR-15 rifle, looking around as if he was anticipating police.Ìý
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After traffic cleared, police arrested him on suspicion of obstructing government operations and took him to the Lancaster County jail.Ìý
"He was trying to get us to come there and overreact," Sands said.Ìý
Brantner has since been released from jail.Ìý