A 49-year-old Port St. Lucie man is accused of holding three teenagers at gunpoint after an incident with an Orbeez gun, according to a police news release.
Gregory Allen Davis was arrested late June 24 and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and false imprisonment of a child to commit aggravated abuse, according to the release.
A 15-year-old boy also was arrested and charged with shooting or throwing a missile at or into an occupied vehicle, according to the release.
Police officers went about 8:50 p.m. June 24 to the area of Southwest Morelia Lane and Southwest Acapulco Terrace after they received reports that teens had fired what initially was thought to be a BB gun or pellet gun from a moving vehicle, according to the release.
They learned a 15-year-old boy had fired a blue, white and yellow motorized Piranha Orbeez toy gun from inside a moving vehicle, hitting Davis’ vehicle while traveling near the intersection, according to the release.
An Orbeez gun is a motorized or spring-powered toy gun that shoots soft water-absorbent beads.
The teen later admitted he intentionally fired the Orbeez gun, but he told officers he mistakenly thought the vehicle belonged to a friend because it was the same make and color, according to the release. Plus, the teens were playing a prank on each other.
Davis thought he and his fiancée, who was driving, were being shot at with a BB gun or pellet gun, according to the release, and they followed the teens’ vehicle while they remained on the phone with 911, providing updates to dispatch.
Detectives determined Davis had multiple opportunities to disengage safely while officers were responding to the incident, according to the release. Instead, he chose to continue pursuing the teens until they stopped in traffic at Southwest Morelia Lane and Southwest Acapulco Terrace.
Davis then got out of his vehicle armed with a loaded 9mm handgun, according to the news release. He ordered the three teens out of their vehicle at gunpoint and onto the ground, where they remained until officers arrived.
Witnesses told detectives Davis repeatedly yelled vulgar commands while identifying the firearm as a “nine-millimeter,” according to the release. Video obtained during the investigation corroborated witness statements and showed Davis holding the teens at gunpoint.
Detectives recovered Davis’ Taurus PT111 G2 9mm handgun as evidence, along with the blue, white and yellow Piranha Orbeez toy gun used during the incident, according to the release.
Davis was taken to the St. Lucie County Jail early June 25, where he remained June 26 with a $30,000 bail, according to the jail’s website.
Port St. Lucie police officials noted the incident served as a reminder that toy guns can cause someone to believe they are under attack, and people should never take matters into their own hands by pursuing someone who is possibly armed.
(This story was updated with video.)
Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida man accused of pointing firearm at 3 teens after Orbeez gun incident
Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
