Bradenton man charged with threatening to kill girlfriend, aiming gun at officers

MANATEE -- A Bradenton man was arrested early Monday after he threatened to kill his girlfriend and himself and told responding officers he was going to shoot them, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

Charles Creech and his girlfriend, who have been together for about 10 years, were drinking in their home in the 3800 block of Cambridge Lane at 4:24 a.m. when the woman told her niece that Creech was getting physical with her and was planning to kill her and then himself, according to an arrest report. She told the niece that she was scared because Creech had gone out to his truck to get his gun.

The woman told the niece the address and the niece arrived with a friend. The girlfriend ran out the front door as Creech came back inside with his gun, and he asked the niece where she had gone and showed her his pistol in a holster, police said. The niece told him the victim ran outside.

Creech looked through rooms looking for the victim while holding the pistol behind his back. The niece and her friend called law enforcement after he left the room.

Deputies arrived and found the victim, who said Creech was still inside. Officers observed a man in the backyard and saw a laser beam pointed towards them, according to the report. He went back inside and later opened the garage door with a black rifle in his hands and the pistol in a holster around his waist.

Deputies announced themselves and told Creech to drop his weapons. Creech responded, "I see you officers in the yard. Go ahead and take your shot, I'm going to take a shot, too," according to the report.

Deputies continued to give Creech verbal warnings, and he eventually put his rifle down and took a few steps out of the garage doorway, but still refused to drop the pistol.

Deputies eventually took Creech into custody using a taser without injuring him.

The victim had a medical emergency and was taken to the hospital. It is unknown if she wishes to press charges.

Creech was charged with intent to commit aggravated domestic battery and serious assault on a law enforcement officer. He was released from the Manatee County jail on Tuesday on $7,000 bond.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 9:06 AM with the headline "Bradenton man charged with threatening to kill girlfriend, aiming gun at officers ."