An 18-year-old man was "remorseful" for bringing a pellet gun that looked like a Glock to Mohawk College on Friday, police say.

And while the gun may not have been a real weapon, police say their response would have been very real if there had been any threatening moves made by the youth.

Officers were called in around 2 p.m., after getting information that a man was on campus with what was believed at the time to be a handgun.

Police and college security tracked the man down and arrested him, police say. He was found carrying what was in fact a pellet gun, which looked similar to a Glock-style handgun.

The man was "interviewed at length" by detectives, police say.

"He made a very bad decision," Const. Steve Welton told CBC News. "The required response from the police officers should he have pointed this very realistic pellet gun at any member of the public would have resulted in a police officer being required to use lethal force to stop what any person would believe to be a threat against their life."

The man was "apologetic and remorseful for his decision," a police news release reads, but "we need to encourage better choices," Welton added.

An 18-year-old Hamilton man was charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and carrying a concealed weapon.

He was released on a promise to appear in court.