A 34-year-old man was arrested early Sunday after police received multiple reports of a bicyclist wearing what appeared to be body armor and carrying an AR-15-style rifle in downtown Visalia, authorities said.

Visalia police said patrol officers responded at about 2:05 a.m. to the 300 block of East Main Street after callers reported a man riding a bicycle while wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying the rifle.

At about 2:40 a.m., officers contacted Josue Flores near Acequia and Court streets while he was riding a bicycle. Police said Flores was wearing a vest resembling a tactical vest and had an AR-style rifle slung across his back.

Flores was arrested without incident. Police determined the rifle was a BB gun designed to replicate the appearance of a firearm.

After his arrest, Flores was taken to a hospital for medical clearance after reporting prior pain in his leg, police said.

Once medically cleared, Flores is expected to be booked on suspicion of brandishing an imitation firearm in a threatening manner that causes another person to reasonably fear bodily harm, displaying or exposing an imitation firearm in a public place, and riding a bicycle on a highway while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination of both.

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