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

MANATEE -- A Bradenton man was arrested after he threatened to kill his girlfriend and himself at 4:24 a.m. Monday, and told responding officers he was going to shoot them, too, according to the Bradenton Police Department.

Charles Creech and his girlfriend, who have been together about 10 years, were drinking in their home in the 3800 block of Cambridge Lane when the woman told her niece Creech was getting physical with her and planning to kill her and then himself, according to an arrest report. She told the niece she was scared because Creech went to get his gun.

The niece arrived at the address 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 holstered pistol, 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.

Arriving deputies arrived found the victim, who said Creech was still inside.

Officers observed a man in the backyard and saw a laser beam pointed toward them, according to the report. Creech went back inside and later opened the garage door holding a black rifle with the pistol in a holster around his waist.

Deputies 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.

The victim had a medical emergency and was taken to the hospital. It is unknown if she will 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 Tuesday on $7,000 bond.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 11:29 PM with the headline "Bradenton man charged with threatening to kill girlfriend, aiming gun at officers ."