A 16-year-old Powell boy has been charged with reckless endangering after he allegedly pointed a revolver at two other teens last week.

The incident took place around 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, south of the softball fields at Homesteader Park, said Powell Police Chief Roy Eckerdt.

It began when another 16-year-old boy brushed up against the suspect’s truck as he got into another vehicle, Eckerdt said of the accounts given to police. The two boys have “had issues in the past,” the chief said, and the contact reportedly prompted the suspect to pull a revolver from the console of his truck. Then, from behind the still-closed window of his truck, the suspect allegedly pointed the firearm in the direction of the other teen and a nearby 17-year-old.

The 17-year-old then confronted the suspect, who drove off, Eckerdt said of what police were told.

When officers located and spoke to the 16-year-old suspect a couple hours later, “he said he was frustrated and went to the extreme, but he did not indicate that he intended to take things further; he was just making a threat,” Eckerdt said.

The teen was issued a citation into Park County Circuit Court for reckless endangering, a high misdemeanor that carries a possible penalty of up to one year in jail.

“Anytime that a firearm is involved, no matter what the intent is, the stakes are high,” said Eckerdt. “It’s a short-sighted reaction to a short-term problem that could have long-term effects. There [are] no do-overs when it comes to a firearm.”

The boy’s parents told police they took the revolver from their son following the incident and returned it to the person they’d purchased it from, Eckerdt said; the parents have been asked to turn the weapon over to police next week.

Federal law generally prohibits juveniles from possessing handguns, though there are some exceptions.

— By CJ Baker