After alarmed consumers raised the alarm, heavily armed cops swooped on an attractive guy wandering through a crowded shopping centre holding what seemed to be an assault weapon.
A significant portion of downtown Perth was blocked off by police emergency response units out of concern for a gunfight with the muscular suspect who was also wearing a bulletproof vest.
The elite Special Response Group of Western Australia had a severe fright when the enigmatic man strolled nonchalantly through the upscale Kings Street shopping centre on Sunday.
However, as soon as the police started moving, they realised there had been a grave error.
The alleged shooter was really Chad Satchell, a 31-year-old exotic dancer who was on his way to work while decked out in a police SWAT uniform; the weapon was merely a set piece.
After authorities got two distinct complaints of a guy impersonating a police officer carrying a sizable pistol, the drama started to play out at approximately 2.40pm (WST).
He might still face charges related to the weapon that police recovered, which is thought to be a gel pellet blaster, but it is yet unknown if the prop had been rendered inoperable. Police promise to conduct testing to find out.
The potential penalties for using a gel blaster in WA are up to three years in jail or a $36,000 fine.
In July of last year, WA prohibited gel blasters, which fire water-filled gel pellets at 100 metres per second, because thieves were bringing the imitation weapons into the state and turning them into genuine ones.
After being taken into custody without incident, police said that Mr. Satchell was “assisting with the investigation.”
While it turned out that there was no actual danger to the public, a police official said the event was a warning that owning and openly exhibiting realistic-looking guns or illegal weapons was a serious problem.
Police said that the people who requested police help “had genuine worries about their safety and the safety of others.”
It would be quite difficult for any member of the public to tell whether the pistol in question was genuine or not since it looked so authentic.
Since 2017, Mr. Satchell has been employed with Fantasy Entertainment Australia, a provider of adult entertainment, where he is listed as a director.
He also performs with many other entertainment groups at wild parties and hens’ nights all throughout Perth.
He promotes many programmes online, including “SWAT,” “police,” “hot Wild West,” and “suave sailor.”
Mr. Satchell can be seen standing in one of the photographs on his booking website with an assault weapon held upright on his shoulder and his chest exposed, except for the open “SWAT” vest.
On his social media pages, he presents himself as a miner, investor, dancer, and entrepreneur. In October, he participated in an international body building competition.
The “finer things in life,” according to Mr. Satchell, are “travelling, surfing, boxing, fine eating, fashion, fitness, photography, and videography.”
His often uploads images of himself working out in posh or exotic settings.