An off duty detective of Washington D.C's Metropolitan Police Department admitted to pulling his gun Saturday while confronting a crowd gathered for a snowball fight at the intersection of 14th and U NW because, as he says "...I got hit with snowballs".http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local-beat/Eyewitness_Confirms__Cop_Freaks_Out_Over_Snowball_Fight_Waves_Gun-79729162.htmlThe Detective identified himself at the scene as "Detective Baylor". An internet-organized snowball fight reportedly involving some two hundred individuals had been going on for over an hour before Detective Baylor entered the intersection in his personal Hummer between 3:00 and 3:30 PM. Detective Baylor's Hummer was allegedly a target of several snowballs. There are pictures of crowd members assisting a police car through the snow and ice at some point before Detective Baylor arrived on the scene.http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjb/4198908464/in/set-72157623033156816/ Eye witnesses reported that Detective Baylor got out of his vehicle and pulled out his weapon, approached the crowd and called for assistance on a walkie talkie. Members of the crowd had also called 911, reporting a "man with a gun". Video from the scene shows a uniformed officer responding with a second drawn weapon, which he holsters shortly after making contact with Detective Baylor. At various times on video, Detective Baylor can be heard daring the crown to throw another snowball and pointing out which of them were going to jail. At one point during the incident, members of the crowd can be heard chanting "you don't bring a gun to a snowball fight". One of the snowballers asked the responding officer to escort Baylor from the area as they did not feel safe with him present. The officer responded "he's a police officer we're not going to do that", and recommends that the members of the group either go back to throwing snowballs, or file a complaint. http://www.youtube.com /watch?v=sFC8mNdxV0c&feature=related

The video and story are receiving national and even international attention, as the BBC has reported the incident on their web site.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8423705.stm

In spite of early reports of anarchist protest involvement, the event seems to be the brainchild of Yousef Ali, a young man pursuing a career in media and technology, and not known to be connected to any anarchist groups or events. About a half dozen anarchist protesters, identified by the anarchist symbol one carries, can be seen in at least one photo, carrying a single sign which stated "No War but Snowball Wars". http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjb/4198989804/in/set-72157623033156816/http://www.shoutout.com/mag/xhttp://www.futuremagining.com/?p=3http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/20/AR2009122000881.html

There are currently no known reports of any incidents occurring before Detective Baylor arrived on the scene. No arrests or injuries have been reported, although three individuals were warned and there is an investigation into the actions of Detective Baylor.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/20/AR2009122000881.html