SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Two men were taken down by RCMP Tuesday morning after they were reported to be walking downtown with a handgun around 7:30 a.m.

Police drew their guns in what they believed to be a high-risk situation, but after investigating found the men were actually in possession of an air pistol that looked like a real firearm.

The men were released. No charges are expected to be laid.

The men, ages 23 and 24, both from Alberta, were spotted exiting their vehicle on 54 Street with what was mistaken to be a weapon by a bystander who then called police. One man was wearing a white ball cap, black shirt and jeans and the second was in a dark grey shirt, grey pants and had short brown hair.

According to RCMP Const. Roxanne Dreilich, the two men and a third person went to a residence and left the air pistol there. She said police arrived on scene, and when the two men went back to their vehicle, RCMP removed them from the car "using a high-risk takedown method."

The two men were held in police custody on the scene while officers investigated the incident.

The air gun in question was a Wingun air pistol, and is "very realistic looking," said Dreilich. "It could be easily mistaken for a real gun."

An eyewitness to the incident, who did not want to be named, said he was driving into downtown past Northern United Place Tuesday morning when he saw police on the corner.

"I noticed the RCMP standing on the corner with their pistols drawn," he said. "It all happened so fast."

A similar incident took place last April when four youths were arrested in front of St. Patrick high school. The youth were thought to be in possession of a handgun, which turned out to be a pellet gun. Dreilich said people should be aware that some air pistols and pellet guns are very realistic. She recommended things like air pistols be carried in a bag or in the original packaging, "so they're not mistaken for a gun."