Dog poop in car leads to crappy situation when rifle is pulled during misunderstanding

SANTA FE, N.M., July 10 (UPI) -- A New Mexico man claims a Santa Fe police officer pulled a rifle on him during a really crappy case of mistaken identity.

Artist Mateo Romero was cleaning dog poop out of the back of his SUV in a stranger's driveway and the homeowner got spooked. Maria Markus, 60, called police and reported a burglary in progress after blocking Romero in with her vehicle.

"I tried to talk to her to explain that I was cleaning up dog poop," Romero told the Albuquerque Journal. "But she got all hysterical and I just backed away. I couldn't leave. It was crazy."

According to a police report, the responding officer pulled out a rifle and detained Romero. After he was searched and it was determined that Romero didn't have any of Markus' property, he was released. "It appeared to be a misunderstanding," the police report said. "Mr. Romero was understanding and polite."

"It's kind of embarrassing, but that's what happened," Romero told the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Romero's paintings have been exhibited in Canada and throughout the United States.