At approximately 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Chillicothe E-911 Dispatch received two separate calls reporting four males pointing guns at citizens.
Officers quickly located the described vehicle in the 300 block of South Washington Street. An investigation revealed that four juvenile males were driving around pointing Orbeez guns at people and attempting to shoot them. One of the guns was painted black, which could have been mistaken for a real gun. Parents were contacted, and the juveniles were released to their guardians.
Orbeez are small, absorbent polymer beads that expand significantly when soaked in water. Originally designed as a children’s toy, Orbeez are made from a type of polymer called sodium polyacrylate, which can absorb and retain large amounts of water. When dry, Orbeez beads are tiny, but after absorbing water, they grow to many times their original size, becoming soft, squishy, and gel-like.
This incident highlights the seriousness of such actions and the potential for dangerous misunderstandings. Parents are advised to discuss the implications of such behavior with their children. The report will be referred to the Livingston County Juvenile Office.
