CLEVELAND — A 19-year-old Elyria man was arrested for allegedly threatening people with a loaded gun following an argument at the Regal Cinemas at Crocker Park just after midnight on Thursday, Westlake police said.
Police detained "several people" outside the movie theater after witnesses said a verbal altercation had broken out among several couples during and just after a showing of "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire," according to a media release. Police say the 19-year-old escalated the arguments by flashing the gun at others and threatening them.
Police said the threat prompted patrons to run out of the theater. Police say officers tracked down the Elyria teen in the parking lot and arrested him without further incident.
Detectives say the gun had no serial numbers, meaning the gun was unregulated and untraceable. These types of firearms are commonly called "ghost guns."
Police say the 19-year-old tried to escape detection by dumping the handgun in a trash can and changing his clothes.
The 19-year-old, who was not identified by police, was charged with aggravated menacing, carrying a concealed weapon and felony tampering with evidence.