Queens Correction Officer Shoots Raccoon, Then Lies To Cops: DA

JAMAICA, QUEENS — A state correction officer was charged with animal cruelty and lying to police for shooting a raccoon in his backyard, then telling cops he'd fired at a burglar, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Jamaica resident Anthony Greaves was off-duty the night of Sept. 25, 2018, when someone heard gunshots that seemed to come from his backyard.

Greaves, 34, told police who showed up to investigate that he'd fired his gun at a burglar trying to break into his home, according to the charges.

Then he backtracked and said he had shot at a raccoon in his yard, prosecutors said.

"The false report wasted resources," Acting Queens District Attorney John M. Ryan said in a statement. "This is certainly not the way a law enforcement officer should behave."

Greaves now faces charges of reckless endangerment, falsely reporting an incident, criminal mischief and animal cruelty.

If convicted, he could face seven years in prison.