Author arrested while posing with gun

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A Swedish author said police forced him to the ground and placed him under arrest for holding a fake gun during a photo shoot for his new book.

Dag Ohrlund said he was posing with a replica of the Swedish police's former service weapon, a Walther pistol, while a photographer took photos for the cover of his latest novel, "In Memory of Charlie," when police officers approached with their guns drawn, The Local reported Monday.

"They forced me and my friend to the ground. We had to lie there 20 minutes with handcuffs while police stomped on my injured back with their boots," Ohrlund told the Aftonbladet newspaper.

Ohrlund said he and the photographer were forced to spend four hours in a holding cell.

Police said the gun is not believed to be a replica, but rather a formerly working weapon with a plugged barrel.

"It's not true that it was bought at a hobby shop," Detective Ewa Edman said.