JOHNSONBURG – The Elk County DA has announced that an August police standoff that killed one was justified.
On August 6th police received reports that a man, identified as 40 year-old Jacob Grebbien, was distressed and claiming through texts that he allegedly wanted a “suicide by cop”.
Police arrived at the 700 block of Penn Street to attempt to safely get Grebbien to leave the residence.
After being called to the scene the SERT team sent a drone into the home, discovering the front entrance was barricaded, Grebbien was found on the second floor with a small rifle and a red gas can. He then disabled the drone.
After approximately 14 hours, SERT members were debating “gas plans” when Grebbien told police through text messages that he had been pouring gasoline inside the residence and would cause an explosion.
Afterwards he exited the home with the firearm and began advancing towards State Troopers, at which point police fired on Grebbien ultimately killing him.
The District Attorney’s Office has now ruled that lethal force was justified stating that the Troopers’ and public’s lives were in danger.
