Police in Gainesville have arrested a man they say was sitting in downtown Gainesville pointing a pellet gun at black people so they would not mess with them.

Michael Petersen was in Bo Diddley Plaza, pointing the silver pellet gun at cars and people while they drove by.

A witness though that the gun was real and alerted police.

When police arrived, they discovered it was not a real gun, though their report says it did resemble a real pistol.

Petersen is being charged with attempted aggravated assault and using prejudice while committing a crime.