WHEN ‘SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING’ WORKS
Bunnell, FL (August 20, 2022) – On Friday afternoon, Bunnell Police officers were dispatched to the Sunoco gas station at 703 N. State Street, Bunnell, regarding a suspicious vehicle. A concerned citizen noticed a male sitting inside a vehicle and strangely staring at patrons making them feel uncomfortable.
Two officers responded and contacted the vehicle and driver seated inside, who they identified as Eric Patrick Greer of Ormond Beach. One officer noticed he was wearing an empty gun holster. When asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, Greer told the officers there wasn’t any; however, as he moved in the vehicle, a t-shirt covering the center console moved and revealed a handgun and two small bongs. Officers asked Greer to step out of the vehicle and they secured him for their safety.
Greer told the officers he did not have a concealed weapons permit. A search of Greer’s clothing revealed a small vile of methamphetamine and other suspected narcotics inside a pill bottle. Also, he was in possession of an old Volusia Sheriff’s Office badge, which he said belonged to a fallen officer. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a small clear bag containing a clear crystal substance, which also tested positive for methamphetamine.
Search of the vehicle revealed a loaded AR-15 in the back seat, a loaded 22 caliber AR-platform rifle in the trunk, a loaded 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun in the front center console of the vehicle, a loaded 44 caliber Ruger revolver on the front passenger side floorboard underneath miscellaneous clothing items, a tub of approximately 1000 live rounds of .223 ammunition behind the driver’s seat, and approximately 100 miscellaneous live rounds ranging from .22 caliber to .308 found in various areas of the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Greer had prior felony arrests, but no convictions.
Greer was later transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility charged with Carrying a Concealed Firearm, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Buprenorphone, and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond $81,000.
Bunnell Police Chief David Brannon commended the concerned citizen who called the police. “It’s important to always be aware of your surroundings, taking notice of the unusual, and reporting concerns to the police in real time. This gives us a chance to look into the situation and determine if the concern is valid. Clearly, in this case, the concerns were valid and allowed us to take an armed drug offender off the street,” said Brannon. He also added, “This is another reminder of the dangers police officers risk each day when they kiss their loved ones goodbye and go to work to keep our community safe.”