Police armed with assault rifles descended on a Maine man's home.

The day before employee's of Lucas Tree Experts were told by Michael Smith of Norridgewock to clear off his property and they reported that he had a gun.

It turns out the "gun" the tree crew had seen on him was a life-sized tattoo of a handgun on his stomach.

Smith, who works nights, was asleep when the tree crew contracted by a utility to trim branches near power lines, woke him up at about 10:00 am Tuesday.

He went outside shirtless and yelled at the workers to leave. When he's not wearing a shirt, the tattoo looks like a gun tucked into his waistband.

Smith tells the Morning Sentinel the tattoo has never been a problem before.

Police didn't charge him.  The tree company declined to comment.