Man waves realistic-looking gun at Cowell Beach

Several Santa Cruz police officers responded to Cowell’s Beach parking lot after witnesses reported a man waving a gun.

Officers quickly arrived after 11:51 p.m. the weekend of June 24, and ordered 37-year-old, Jay Davis to put his hands up. Police said when Davis did that, a gun tucked under his arm fell out onto the ground. Officers said it turned out to be a realistic-looking airsoft gun and that Davis had painted the orange tip black.

Davis, a resident of Santa Cruz, was arrested and released with a ticket for having a replica gun with a modified orange tip.

SCPD said they take firearm complaints seriously due to the threat to public and officer safety.

“If someone brandishes a weapon, Officers will treat the incident as a genuine threat until it becomes apparent they aren’t dealing with a live firearm. The responding patrol team’s discipline and coordinated response diffused the scene without any injuries,” said Santa Cruz Police.