Three boys believed to have been showing off a gun at a city park were taken into custody Monday night after a foot chase and a search for the gun that turned up nothing.

Police officers as part of the Phoenix Community Policing Project were dispatched to Fairview Commons School and Park, at West Hillcrest and Emerson avenues, at about 7:54 p.m. on a report from a caller that several males were showing off a gun there, Dayton Lt. Wendy Stiver told News Center 7.

When police arrived, three males matching the description of the caller took off running. Officers apprehended all three (two ages 17 and one age 14) in a foot chase that ended on Uhrig Avenue, a few blocks from of the park.

No gun was found along the path the boys took as they ran, Stiver said. The Dayton Fire Department assisted by bringing in a ladder so police could search the roof of the nearby Fairview Elementary School.

A west side “99” was called to bring in more police to assist those already on scene. It was quickly canceled because a gun was believed to have been a part of the incident.

Two of the juveniles were trespassed from Fairview Commons and will be charged as juveniles with delinquency by reason of trespassing and resisting arrest. The third will be charged as a juvenile with delinquency by reason of obstructing official business.

There was no indication of gang involvement, Stiver said.

The Phoenix Project is a partnership between the Dayton Police Department and citizens of the Phoenix Project area. The partnership has resulted in a dramatic drop in crime, down 60 percent since 2004, according to the city of Dayton. The project area covers four neighborhoods in Northwest Dayton and a significant portion of the Salem Avenue corridor.