Long Beach Police Department officers arrested a man who was threatening others, saying he was carrying a gun and intended to shoot people on a golf course Sunday.

The man, carrying a duffel bag, walked onto Recreation Golf Course on the 5000 block of Deukmejian Drive at about 7:30AM and told golfers that he had a gun in the bag and may shoot someone, police said.

East Division officers located the man walking on the golf course and attempted to make commands to the suspect, who refused to follow the commands and took off running through the golf course.

“Officers gave chase fearing the suspect in fact had a gun and was going to hurt people,” police said. “The suspect was reaching towards the bag, as if reaching for a gun, and saying, ‘shoot me!’ Officers utilized a less than lethal tool to attempt to stop the suspect. The suspect was hit several times with rubber launchers, however they were ineffective and the suspect kept running.”

Using a taser, officers were able to detain the man when they caught up with him. They then took the suspect, identified as 53-year-old Richard Lavalle into custody. Police found he was not actually carrying a gun.

Lavelle was taken to a local hospital for minor injuries and has been booked on a charge of resisting arrest and will undergo mental evaluation. He is being held on $10,000 bail, according to jail records.

A search of Lavelle’s records found that prior to Sunday’s incident he had been arrested at least three times since March 2014.

Police said Lavelle claims to have served time in the military, and served 17 years in federal prison for bank robbery.

“This was an extremely dangerous situation that could have easily resulted in an officer involved shooting,” police said. “Thanks to the quick response, tactics and discipline of the responding officers and sergeant, this situation was safely resolved and the patrons could return to their Sunday golf.”