Tri-Cities man arrested for ‘mean mugging,’ brandishing gun outside Sportsman’s store
Kennewick police arrested a 40-year-old man on Sunday for allegedly brandishing what looked like a semi-automatic pistol at people outside the Sportsman’s Warehouse store.
A caller said the man was “mean mugging” them in the parking lot, showing them the weapon — that was actually a BB gun — as if it was a real firearm, according to a Kennewick Police Department post to Facebook.
Police arrested Jesse Collinge, 40, of Kennewick, and booked him into the Benton County jail on investigation of third-degree theft, brandishing a weapon, unlawful possession of a gun and driving with a suspended license.
Police identified Collinge and his vehicle and conducted a “high risk” stop. They detained him and a passenger, and noticed “firearms in the vehicle in open view,” according to the Facebook post.
“Through the investigation it was determined Collinge brandished a firearm as he had it in his waistband and lifted his shirt to display it as he stared angrily at the caller,” the post read. “It was also discovered Collinge had just stolen the magazine to a firearm from Sportsman’s Warehouse.”
He also reportedly is not allowed to possess a gun.
Police identified the gun he allegedly brandished as a BB gun that he was trying to pass off as a real firearm. The magazine Collinge is alleged of stealing was for a real firearm.
A real gun, described by police as a “semi-automatic,” was also found in the vehicle.
In his first court appearance Monday, Collinge said the real gun wasn’t on him and belonged to his ex-wife, who was in the vehicle with him.
Benton Franklin Superior Court Judge Diana Ruff ordered Collinge be held in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Kennewick police praised the caller for reacting appropriately.
“As we would recommend, the caller in this case did not try to engage the suspect further, separated from the subject and called 911. The caller then provided a description of the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle to dispatch,” the post read.
This story was originally published January 6, 2025 at 12:49 PM.
