Marines did what comes naturally

Marines did what comes naturally
March 28,2006
JOE MILLER
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Lance Cpl. Clifford Ray and Sgt. Jason Millspaugh saw the man running toward them and knew he was being chased by a police officer.

The two Camp Lejeune Marines knew they had to act quickly.

“He was going to get away if we hadn’t done what we did,” said Ray, 21, from New Castle Ky. who didn’t believe the Jacksonville officer had much chance to run down the man now identified as Detony Greaves, 22, of Onslow Drive.

Millspaugh and Ray caught Greaves as he was running from police after a traffic stop Saturday afternoon.

Jacksonville police said they clocked a vehicle driving 61 mph in a 45 mph zone near the intersection of Western Boulevard and Brynn Marr Road around 3 p.m. Greaves had no driver’s license, police said.

Police found drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, and then Greaves tried to flee the scene, police said.

That’s when Millspaugh and Ray, both members of the 6th Marine Regiment, stepped into action. They were cutting down trees in the area when they saw the suspect running toward them.

Millspaugh, 25, from Sanford, Fla., said they were able to pin Greaves and tackle him.

“The guy gave himself up,” he said. “He was like, ‘You guys got me, you guys got me.’”

The Marines held Greaves for a few seconds until police arrived. They weren’t worried that Greaves might be armed.

“If he had a weapon, he probably would have shot at the cops before he took off,” Millspaugh said. “He had plenty of cover to get down and start shooting.”

Police charged Greaves with possession with intent to sell, manufacture and deliver marijuana; maintaining a vehicle for transporting marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; resist, obstruct and delay; and driving while license revoked. His bond was set at $7,500.

Jacksonville police Capt. Gary Dixon thanked the Marines for their actions.

“Any case, in general, where a citizen can assist the police in a safe manner is just beyond helpful,” he said.

Dixon is particularly happy police were able to recover several bags of marijuana found in Greaves’ possession.

“The narcotics would have not been recovered either had it not been for the citizens,” Dixon said.

Both Millspaugh and Ray say they plan to pursue careers in law enforcement.

“(My goal is) just keeping the streets safe or at least helping out,” Millspaugh said.

Contact staff writer Joe Miller at jmiller@freedomenc.com or at 353-1171, Ext. 236.