Man Arrested for Threats in Mesa Neighborhood

Update by edhat staff

A Santa Barbara man was arrested for making terrorist threats and brandishing a weapon in a Mesa neighborhood on Thursday.

At 2:28 p.m. Thursday, Santa Barbara Police received a report of a male brandishing a black firearm and taser after a verbal altercation occurred between two individuals in the 200 block of Reef Court off Elise Way.

The victim reported serious verbal threats were made by John Gaffney, 58 of Santa Barbara, to harm the victim. Gaffney then fled into his apartment before police arrived.

Officers arrived on the scene and established a perimeter around Gaffney’s residence. A Santa Barbara Police Officer, who is a member of the County’s Co-Response Team and Crisis Negotiation Response Team (CNRT), responded to the scene and attempted to contact Gaffney by cellphone, according to the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Gaffney refused to answer calls from officers and face-to-face communication with Gaffney was established by the CNRT Officer. After brief negotiations, Gaffney surrendered without further incident, reports the Santa Barbara Police Department.

A stun-gun, taser, and pepper spray (mace) gun were located inside the residence.

Gaffney was arrested and booked in Santa Barbara County Jail on $50,000 bail for Terrorist Threats (felony) and Brandishing a Weapon (misdemeanor).

Photo: Santa Barbara Police Department

By Tagdes

A suspect is brandishing a firearm on Elise Way. Several Police units are responding code 3 (lights and sirens).