Arrest of Individual Threatening to Shoot Officers – NR23261rc

Los Angeles: On August 28, 2023, just before 7:00 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Harbor Division officers responded to the 600 block of West 12th Street in San Pedro for a radio call of an individual suffering mental illness and threatening violence. The 911 caller advised the individual suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and was having suicidal and homicidal ideations. Furthermore, the individual threatened to shoot any police officers that responded to the scene.

When the officers arrived and attempted to establish communications with the subject. The subject, a male Black in his 60’s, initially exited his apartment while holding a large kitchen knife and threatened to stab, shoot, and kill officers if they approached him. The suspect then went inside of his residence and refused to come out. Due to prior contacts with the subject, officers were aware that he was a military veteran and had been placed on prior mental evaluation hold at a local hospital. Officers also discovered that the subject had previously violated his parole and had an active warrant for his arrest.

Officers contacted the Mental Evaluation Unit who responded to the scene and assisted with the incident. An officer who has completed the LAPD’s Mental Health Intervention Training began to talk to the subject and establish a rapport with him in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. After two hours of speaking with the subject, officers were able to convince him to drop his knife in exchange for a pack of cigarettes. Once a pack of cigarettes were obtained and placed outside of the apartment, the subject exited and voluntarily dropped his knife over the side of the balcony. Now disarmed, a team of officers formulated a plan and were able to take the subject into custody without utilizing any force.

Although the subject threatened to shoot officers, no gun was located at scene. The subject was transported to a local hospital to be seen for his mental illness. He will ultimately be booked for his open parole warrant.