The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

Man arrested after brandishing fake gun at military recruiting office

by •

[Image courtesy LASD]
[Image courtesy LASD]
LANCASTER – A 23-year-old man believed to be high on drugs was arrested Tuesday morning after he allegedly brandished an imitation firearm while threatening soldiers at a Marine Corps recruiting office in Lancaster, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 9:36 a.m.Tuesday, June 21, on the 44500 block of Valley Central Way, according to a news release from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

The suspect, Angel Francisco Cruz, was asked to leave the recruiting office due to his disruptive behavior. He then “threatened the soldiers inside the office while simultaneously lifting his shirt up and brandishing the buttstock of a gun,” according to the sheriff’s news release.

“The suspect fled the location after brandishing the weapon, and Lancaster Station deputies were able to detain the suspect a short distance away,” the news release states. “Deputies found an imitation firearm in the suspect’s waistband.”

Cruz was also found to be under the influence of a controlled substance, and there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest, according to the sheriff’s department.

He was arrested and booked at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Lancaster

21 comments for "Man arrested after brandishing fake gun at military recruiting office"

  1. I’m always amused when someone tries to play a bunch of intelligentsia cards like “Darwinist” and discussing the “diminished” mental capacity of others…while demonstrating that their own knowledge of the subject is so “week.” I suggest seven days of study.

  2. 15 years ago at AV Mall an elderly man leveled a realistic fake gun at my son’s head in the food court. He said something like pow and startes laughing maniacally. My son was three years old. The man was less than 5 feet away, my son would have been dead if the gun were real. I turned the stroller and found security. They “disarmed” the man of the fake gun and nothing happened. Not only did the man not get arrested, he was not banned from the mall and was not referred for a mental health eval. I called the police and they came out to my house and said there was nothing they could do, I could only file a citizen’s arrest which is worthless because the man did not break any laws.
    How is it legal to do that at the mall?
    So, I am surprised that the man in the article was arrested for having a fake gun in his waistband.

    • The man was probably arrested because of the outstanding warrant that he had and not the incident with the fake gun.

  3. Bless his heart. My heart goes out to him. Hopefully he is able to get some rigorous counseling and aggressive therapy for his reckless behavior. The temperature in the AV has been well above average which indeed diminishes mental capacity and judgment. It is likely he was not thinking clearly because of it. My prayers are with him.

  4. Seems like half the comments come from [removed] citizens. And the other half from Marines.
    Semper-Fi Gentleman.

  5. Please note it is a felony to carry a firearm in a federal building. All military recruiting offices are deemed federal buildings. Only exceptions are for on duty law enforcement officers. Please, NO ONE bring a firearm into any military recruiting center.

  6. He’s damn lucky somebody like me wasn’t there visiting…I carry too but not an imitation one. It would be important for all to remember that not everyone is willing to be a victim and some of us have training on how to immediately respond to a threat. Not to mention he’said damn lucky somebody like Sgt. Cruz didn’the decide to stomp his guts out on the spot. Semper Fi, Semper Fortis…all the time, everywhere.

    • I F I WOULD OF SEEN YOU CARRYING A FIREARM I WOULD OF CALLED THE POLICE ON YOU THETE IS NO REASON WHY YOU SHOULD BE CARRYING A A FIREARM AT ALL, IM A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN THAT WILL REPORT ANY CRIME ON SIGHT ESPECIALLLY IF I SEE SOMEONE CARRYING A LOADEF FIREARM .

    • LOL…too bad for you. No doubt you are eager to kill another human being to justify your cold steel courage. Heroically protecting the marines. What a joke.

      • And you guys realize that since did not draw the “weapon” and show any real intent of bodily harm you would be the one in jail for murder. Welcome to California, learn the law.

        • Don’t rain on their fantasies man. They are in that cold steel courageous group that believes they will eventually be allowed to kill a person and get away with it. Take that away from them and they may decide the thrill is worth the cost and just go spree killing.

    • The definition of soldier is “one who serves in the military of their country.”

      Get a clue before you get all wound up there hero.

      • Tim please we are Marines. Not soldiers. Respect that and all is cool. It’s not alot to ask man. It’s just a respectful thing. The Army has soldiers,the Airforce has Airman and the Navy has seamen. The Marines we are Marines. Thanks for respecting that. Semper Fi.

      • Jeff, I respect you and your request. I don’t respect Mike in his basement squawking about a journalist using a word accurately, even if that accuracy was general and not specific.

        By the way, I always preferred “sailor,” but won’t quibble.

        • See the difference when someone asks something respectfully? i’m not trying to weigh in on any of the debates in these comments, I just wanted to point out how differently someone reacts when you say something in a calm, intelligent and respectful way. too bad more didnt react in the same way jeff did… we might actually get somewhere if they did.

  8. Recruits need not audition at the office, the Marine Corps has regularly scheduled try-out programs.