A man living in a homeless encampment in Balboa Park was arrested Monday after he allegedly pointed a gun at firefighters responding to a nearby fire.
While responding to a small brush fire adjacent to the encampment, San Diego Fire-Rescue (SDFD) firefighters approached the man in his tent and saw a handgun close by, according to City Media Services Manager Monica Munoz.
Firefighters instructed the man not to touch the gun, but he immediately grabbed it, Munoz said. Firefighters retreated and called police for backup.
Officers took the man into custody without incident but didn’t find the gun before leaving the scene. Firefighters began a grid search for the weapon and eventually found it buried in the dirt under a log on the encampment.
Firefighters notified SDPD and officers returned to retrieve the weapon.
Officers could not confirm the man started the fire.
