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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
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VIDEO: Man Pulls Air Pistol on Port Authority Officers in Jamaica Station

By Ben Fractenberg | February 24, 2016 3:51pm
 Reginald Clark, 45, pulled an air pistol out in front of two Port Authority officers at the Jamaica AirTrain station on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016.
Reginald Clark, 45, pulled an air pistol out in front of two Port Authority officers at the Jamaica AirTrain station on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016.
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Port Authority

QUEENS — A man claiming to be bipolar told two Port Authority officers at the Jamaica AirTrain station that “I have something for you” before pulling an air pistol out of his waistband, according to an agency spokesman and video of the incident.

Reginald Clark, 45, is seen in the video walking up to a turnstile Monday afternoon and speaking with the officers. He then appears to pull something out of his pants, prompting the officers to jump back and pull out their weapons.

They then order the man to drop his weapon, which he appears to place on a counter, and to get on the floor.

Clark complied and the officers managed to arrest him without incident. 

“The officers have no reason to believe it’s anything other than a real pistol,” Port Authority spokesman Joe Pentangelo told DNAinfo. “Their training came to bear and luckily the situation was resolved with no one injured or worse.”

Clark, who is homeless, told the officers he suffers from bipolar disorder and had not taken his medication for two days, Pentangelo added.

They also found additional rounds for the air pistol in a bag Clark was carrying. 

He was transported to Jamaica Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Clark was later charged with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and possession of an air pistol.

He was arraigned on Tuesday and held on $20,000 bond. Clark has been arrested more than a dozen times, according to Port Authority.

His lawyer did not return an immediate call for comment.