Police Detective Surrenders, Accused Of Pulling Gun During NYE Party And Threatening 1 Man
PITCAIRN (KDKA) -- A local police detective has turned himself in to face charges after investigators say he pulled out his gun during a New Year's Eve party and stuck it in another man's side.
Police say North Braddock Police Detective Craig Gibson surrendered to officers in Pitcairn. After being held in the Allegheny County Jail, court records say Gibson posted bail. He is currently suspended without pay.
According to the criminal complaint, witnesses told police that Gibson appeared intoxicated when he showed up, uninvited, to a party on Thursday night. Police say he was with a friend.
The criminal complaint reports four witnesses said Gibson had his badge visible and was wearing his gun on his hip.
"An off-duty police officer brandishing a gun and having his badge, actually poking people with the gun out of his holster," said Pitcairn Police Chief Scott Farally.
Police say people at the party asked him to put his gun and badge away, "because it was unnecessary," and that's when investigators say Gibson pulled out the weapon and pushed it against a man's side.
"He actually took the gun out of its holster and put it on the ribs of other individuals," said Farally.
Watch KDKA's Shelby Cassesse's full report:
The victim and another man asked Gibson and his friend to leave.
The criminal complaint reports that the two men even discussed how to disarm Gibson "if it began to escalate after they told him to leave."
However, police say Gibson and his friend both left after the friend suggested they leave.
No one was hurt in the incident.
"How are we to build the bond within the community if we have no integrity and we do these things to community members?" said Farally.
Gibson, of McKeesport, is facing charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment and reckless endangerment.
"We have no problem with him. Great officer, does a lot of things here. When I heard what happened I was in shock," said North Braddock Police Chief Isaac Daniele. "We have done so much just in this last month to where we have taken massive amounts of heroin off the street. Something like this is kind of a kick down a little bit."
Gibson has a preliminary hearing for Jan. 25.
