Steven Bills, 47, of Petaluma was arrested after a 17-year-old girl told police he pointed a gun at her and her friends sitting in a car near the Chevron gas station and the Washington Square Shopping Center at 1440 E. Washington St. around 6:09 p.m.
The 17-year-old girl apparently pointed a plastic toy laser pistol at Bills who was at the Chevron station. Bills then followed the vehicle into the Washington Square Shopping Center parking lot and pulled alongside the car and pointed a firearm at the girl and her friends before driving off, according to police.
Police say the girl was joking around with friends and the toy laser pistol did not resemble an actual weapon.
The girl told police Bills' license plate number. He was then detained without incident as he arrived at his home in the 1600 block of Rainer Avenue. He was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a firearm and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police.
He was booked into county jail.