PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A popular St. Lucie County Facebook scanner page is moving to remove “Greg” from its name after the man identified by police as Gregory Allen Davis was arrested in connection with an Orbeez prank that escalated into an armed confrontation with three teenagers.
In a post to Greg’s St. Lucie County Scanner Page, page administrators told followers the name “Greg” will be removed once Facebook approves a pending name change. The post said Greg is “no longer the owner or affiliated with the management of this page.”
“Our mission is simple: to provide St. Lucie County with timely, accurate, and responsible news while serving our community with transparency, accountability, and integrity,” the post said.
The update came days after Port St. Lucie police said Davis, 49, was arrested after three teenagers were held at gunpoint following an Orbeez incident near Southwest Morelia Lane and Southwest Acapulco Terrace.
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According to police, officers responded after reports that teenagers had fired what was initially believed to be a BB gun or pellet gun from a moving vehicle. Investigators later determined a 15-year-old had fired a blue, white and yellow Piranha Orbeez toy gun at another vehicle carrying Davis and his fiancée.
Greg’s St. Lucie County Scanner Page says its founder is no longer affiliated and the page’s name will change after his arrest in an Orbeez case. (Facebook)
Police said Davis and his fiancée believed they were being shot at with a BB gun and followed the teens’ vehicle while staying on the phone with 911. Investigators said Davis later got out of his vehicle armed with a 9mm handgun and ordered the teens out of their vehicle and onto the ground, where they remained until officers arrived.
Body-worn camera video released by police captured the tense moments after officers arrived. One responding officer can be heard asking, “Why are we pointing guns at kids?”
Davis was arrested on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and false imprisonment of a child to commit aggravated abuse. The 15-year-old was also arrested on a charge of shooting or throwing a missile at or into an occupied vehicle.
A separate post on the scanner page, written on behalf of Greg, his family and friends, thanked supporters for their prayers and encouragement and asked people to consider contributing to his legal defense fund. The post said Greg has stepped away from social media to focus on himself, his family and the legal process.
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“At this time, Greg has stepped away from social media to focus on himself, his family, and the legal process,” the post said.
It was not immediately clear what the page’s new name will be or who is currently managing it.
The arrest has also renewed warnings from law enforcement about Orbeez guns and other gel blasters. Police said what may appear to be a prank can create fear, spark dangerous reactions and lead to criminal charges.