GREENVILLE, S.C. — Michael Vines has a gun tattooed on his forehead, but that’s not the weapon that put him behind bars in South Carolina.
Police in Greenville reported Tuesday that Vines was involved in a recent car crash, after which city firefighters said they saw him toss a weapon into the grass nearby. The firefighters reported it to police officers, who recovered the gun, described as a fully loaded Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver.
Vines, whose mugshot shows a tattoo of a handgun in the middle of his forehead, is federally prohibited from having a gun, police officials said. He was charged with unlawful carrying of a firearm, as well as driving under a suspended license and speeding.
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"The real weapon was placed in property and evidence," police officials said on the department's Facebook page.
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The department’s social media followers couldn’t resist a few jokes at Vines’ expense. One man asked if someone “held a gun to his head” to make him get the tattoo.
Another man offered this hypothetical exchange:
"COP: 'Sir, do you have any guns on you?'
THIS GUY: 'No.'
COP: 'Are you sure?'
THIS GUY: 'Absolutely. No way.'
COP: 'Are you suuuuuuuurrrrreeeee?' (Taps him on the forehead.)"
“Remorse written all over his forehead,” a commenter said. “No, wait. Nope, that’s a gun. My bad.”
Police officials did not say why Vines is prohibited from possessing a gun.