Santa Cruz Police: Man points BB gun at boy, threatens to ‘blow his brains out’
Vince Cestone
Santa Cruz police have arrested a 28-year-old man accused of pointing a gun at a boy and threatening to “blow his brains out,” police said.
The incident happened on Saturday at around 3:15 p.m. in the 800 block of Pacific Avenue.
When police arrived at the scene, they found Jeffrey Greer threatened a boy with a gun, police said.
Police found him on Maple Street a short time later.
Officers found that the black pistol on Greer was actually a BB gun, police said.
Here is the full statement from police:
SANTA CRUZ, CA — On Saturday, March 17th, 2018 at 3:15 pm, Santa Cruz Police Officers responded the 800 block of Pacific Avenue regarding a male adult who flashed a gun at a juvenile. The suspect threatened the juvenile with a firearm stating that he would “blow his brains out.” The subject was described as a white male adult with a blonde beard and wearing a multi-colored shirt. He was reportedly last seen walking on Pacific Avenue towards Maple Street.
Officer Badeo and Sergeant Azua immediately located the subject on Maple Street. When the officers approached, the suspect quickly turned away from the officers and reached for the suspected gun in the waistband area of his pants. The responding officers un-holstered their department-issued firearms
and gave commands for the man to stop. The subject, later identified as Jeffrey Greer, 28 years old,
from Boulder Creek, pulled out a black pistol from his waistband.
Initially, Mr. Greer did not comply with the multiple orders from the officers to drop the gun.
Eventually, officers were able to de-escalate Mr. Greer’s stance. He complied, dropped the gun and
surrendered. The black pistol that Mr. Greer had in his possession turned out to be a BB gun/Airsoft
gun replicated in the make and model of Smith and Wesson M&P.
Said Police Chief Andrew Mills, “ I commend my officers for their restraint and patience during incidents
like this. I can’t applaud these officers enough for their use of training, judgment, and teamwork to
deescalate this potentially life-threatening situation.”
Santa Cruz Police placed Jeffrey Greer into custody for these listed charges; criminal threat with intent
to terrorize, alteration and display of an imitation firearm in public and committing a felony while
released on bail.
