MLPD detective de-escalates tense standoff involving realistic BB gun

MOSES LAKE — A Moses Lake Police detective is being credited with safely defusing a tense encounter Wednesday morning with a man who displayed what appeared to be a firearm but turned out to be a BB revolver gun. 

The Moses Lake Police Department said officers were attempting to arrest Anthony Stoner, 43, on outstanding firearms and drug charges shortly after 10:20 a.m. when detectives located him at a business in the 1100 block of North Stratford Road. Stoner had been the subject of a search warrant served at his residence weeks earlier and had been evading authorities since then, according to a statement from MLPD.  

Stoner was seated in the back of a vehicle when officers approached him, according to police. During the encounter, he produced what appeared to the responding officers to be a handgun. Authorities said the weapon was not pointed directly at police, but his actions suggested he was trying to provoke officers into using deadly force. 

The situation quickly escalated, prompting a substantial law enforcement response. MLPD Detective Edgar Salazar began communicating with Stoner and worked to bring the situation under control, according to Capt. Mike Williams.  

“It could have very, very easily gone the other direction,” Williams said. “Detective Salazar, from his location, had the best view into the vehicle. He was able to see the firearm, and was able to engage him in conversation, and eventually get him to de-escalate enough to put the gun down.” 

Police said the entire encounter lasted about 15 minutes, ending with Stoner surrendering peacefully. No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported. 

Williams credited Salazar’s training and composure for the outcome. 

“It goes to the training level that Detective Salazar has – both interpersonal skills as well as firearm skills,” Williams said. “He’s very confident and competent with his firearm, so he was able to not have to resort to going to guns right away. He was able to talk his way through it.” 

Authorities later determined that the weapon Stoner displayed was a realistic-looking BB gun revolver. Williams said even experienced officers could have easily mistaken it for a real firearm. 

“We see a lot of guns that are realistic replicas. This one was extremely realistic,” Williams said. “I was standing three feet away from it, looking at it on the ground, and I would have bet 100 bucks it was a real gun, until you picked it up and actually felt it.” 

He added that in a fast-moving situation, officers are often forced to make split-second decisions. 

“In that situation, the officer is not going to be able to make that judgment if that gun comes up at him,” Williams said. 

After being taken into custody, Stoner told officers he was grateful the situation did not turn deadly and thanked Salazar for saving his life, MLPD said in a statement.  

Detectives also recovered approximately seven ounces of fentanyl powder from Stoner at the time of his arrest. He was booked into the Grant County Jail on his previous warrants as well as new drug charges. 

“A lot of credit to Detective Salazar and his ability to think through and talk through the situation and bring it to a safe resolution,” Williams said. 

    The Moses Lake Police Department arrested Anthony Stoner, 43, after a standoff at a convenience store. Stoner, according to MLPD, had a realistic-looking BB revolver in the backseat of the vehicle, pictured.