Ledyard — Police seized an AR-15 assault rifle Sunday and arrested its owner at gunpoint minutes after the man allegedly pointed the weapon at a group of about 15 people, many of whom were children.

Brendon T. Richmond, 20, of 9 Vinegar Hill Road, Gales Ferry, was released on $10,000 bond Monday morning after appearing in court in New London. He was charged with reckless driving, risk of injury to a minor, first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree threatening.

Kevin Kovalik said Monday he was among the group that Richmond threatened around 5:20 p.m. Sunday. Kovalik said he was pulling out of his mother's driveway and was almost sideswiped by Richmond's white Cadillac at the intersection of Shewville Road and Whitford Road after Richmond drove through a stop sign. An argument ensued, Kovalik said, before Richmond drove away. Kovalik said at the time, a large group, including his three children, were in the front yard of his mother's house, next to the intersection. Kovalik said he called police because of Richmond's erratic driving.

According to a prosecutor's report, Richmond returned to the scene a short time later and pointed the gun out the window as he drove by the house.

"Several children were present and saw the barrel of the rifle pointed at them," Officer Rick McSwain wrote in his report.

After a second 911 call came in about Richmond, McSwain located Richmond's vehicle and followed it into the parking lot of the Pumpkin Hill Market. He ordered Richmond to stay in the car, but, the report said, Richmond exited the vehicle and walked toward the store.

"I drew my weapon and ordered the operator to stop and get on the ground to which he complied," McSwain wrote.

After Richmond was apprehended, police found a Stag Arms AR-15 223 caliber rifle in plain view on the backseat of the car. The weapon was unloaded, police said, but a single 223-caliber round was on the floor of the car and a magazine inserted in the weapon. In a statement, Richmond told police the gun was his but denied pointing it out the window.

Richmond is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 14.