A Clinton man was placed behind bars Tuesday after he allegedly robbed another man using a plastic gun — a toy firearm that Clinton police said looked very real.

Michael Jerome Smith, 27, of 505 Stetson St., Clinton, has been charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, a felony offense, in connection with the incident. Smith was taken into custody moments after the robbery call came into the Clinton Police Department.

According to reports, officers responded to the area of Stetson Street shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Once there, they spoke with victim Kerry Aeton Padmore, 30, of Fayetteville Street.

Padmore told police that he was walking in the area of Stetson Street when he was approached by a black male wearing a brown hat, brown jacket and blue jeans. The suspect walked up to Padmore and pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun, the victim stated in reports.

The man then demanded money. Padmore said he the man took 10 $1 bills from him before he took off running toward the Ferrell Street Park.

After receiving the robbery report, police searched for a man matching the description of the suspect. A short time later, officer C.K. Winter spotted a man he believed to be the suspect walking down Lisbon Street near Railroad Street, according to reports.

When he approached the man, Winter found a black plastic gun on the ground near the man, identified as Smith.

Smith was arrested and placed under $10,000 secured bond for the robbery offense.

Following the incident, and the seizure of the fake gun, officer Anthony Smith noted the realistic look of the toy.

“Even though it was a toy,” the officer stated in reports, “the gun looked very real in the lighting conditions.”

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@intrstar.net.