A 22-year-old Lawndale, Ca. man wielding a toy, but very real-looking pistol, islucky to be alive Friday. Three officers surrounded him in Hermosa Beach and ordered him to drop the gun, and when he didn’t immediately do so came within a split-second of getting shot when officers confronted him.

The gun was a toy Beretta that shoots plastic pellets. An orange ring to indicate it was a replica had been painted black.

Hermosa Beach officers responded at 2 a.m. to a report of a man with a gun. When they arrived in 10 seconds, they saw the man standing in a crowd of people.

The man pulled what appeared to be a Beretta handgun from his waistband, racked the slide back, and wielded it at a citizen in a threatening manner.

Officers ordered him to drop the weapon, but he did not immediately comply. After repeated orders to drop it, he finally did and was arrested, Higgins said.

He was arrested on suspicion of exhibiting a replica firearm and booked at the Hermosa Beach jail. He was released after posting $15,000 bail.

Olswang is scheduled to appear in Torrance court on Sept. 28.