Fresno man booked for robbery after brandishing gun

Fresno police Thursday arrested a local man on robbery charges after a shoplifting arrest escalated when he brandished a replica firearm at a Target store in the 3100 block of West Shaw Avenue.

Lt. Joe Gomez said the incident took place about 9:41 p.m. when the suspect, identified as Reginald Lee Smith, 22, was stopped by store security officials who asked him to return a cell phone that he had in his hand. The security officer asked him to return another phone in his pocket. Instead, Smith reportedly lifted his shirt to display a pellet gun in his waistband. The officer called 911 as Smith fled. He was arrested nearby after being subdued by a police dog. The pellet gun was recovered.

Smith was treated for a dog bite at Community Regional Medical Center and booked into Fresno County Jail.

This story was originally published August 21, 2015 at 10:13 AM with the headline "Fresno man booked for robbery after brandishing gun."