The Suspect Picked up a Knife and Said “I’m Going to Kill You” Multiple Times
A homeless man was arrested close to the Santa Monica Pier by authorities earlier this week after he was seen behaving dangerously.
Just before 11 a.m. on May 7, Santa Monica’s Downtown Services Unit Lieutenant was flagged down at the intersection of Ocean and Colorado. A member of the Legion security team and a social services worker then approached a homeless man in a wheelchair who was surrounded by his belongings. After being offered resources, the suspect became “irate.” He then picked up a knife out of his belongings, and said “I’m going to kill you” multiple times to the officials, according to an SMPD spokesperson.
Additional officers arrived, including Crisis Negotiation Team officers, who tried to “establish rapport.” Nevertheless, the suspect refused to drop the knife. After placing the weapon back into his jacket, an arrest team approached him from behind, gained control of his arms and took him into custody.
A minor use of force was used, but no one was injured during the arrest, according to the SMPD spokesperson. The occurrence also briefly shut down traffic at the northbound lane of Ocean Avenue.
The subject was transported to the Santa Monica Jail and will undergo a psychological assessment by a Department of Mental Health clinician. Though charges are still pending, ‘obstruction’ and ‘criminal threats’ may be in order, according to the spokesperson.
