FARGO, N.D. — Two North Dakota State University students got a scare when armed police officers mistook their telescope for a rifle.
WDAY-TV reports that Levi Joraanstad and Colin Waldera were setting up the telescope behind their apartment Monday night when they were blinded by a bright light and told to stop moving.
They couldn’t see who was shining the light and presumed it was a prank by other students.
An officer on patrol had spotted the two and thought the telescope was a rifle. He also thought Joraanstad’s dark sweater with white lettering on the back looked like a tactical vest. He called for backup and the officers confronted the students.
Police say the students were never in danger and that it was a situation of “better safe than sorry.”
