Arrested for armed robbery with a BB gun

VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The Van Buren County Sheriff's Department says they have arrested a 27-year-old man from Bangor for armed robbery with what was later determined to be a BB gun.

Deputies say they were dispatched to a reported home invasion and assault on 16^th Avenue of Geneva Township during the early morning hours of June 28^th. The owner of the home stated that he had answered a knock on his door to find a male subject who forced his way inside the residence brandishing a handgun.

The resident was ordered to lie down on the floor, which he refused to do. The suspect then struck the resident in the side of the head with the gun.

A struggle ensued, which the homeowner was able to escape by running to a neighbor's home, where a 911 call was made to police.

Officers say they used a K-9 unit to follow a trail to a nearby residence. Officers were permitted inside to check that residence and discovered several stolen items from the victim's home, as was the suspect as described by the victim.

The weapon described, and later identified by the victim, was found to be a BB gun which resembled a Colt .45 handgun.

The subject, who police identified as Rayford Carter, was taken into custody and charged with armed robbery.