The following is a press release issued by the Ukiah Police Department
On 5/21/21 at approximately 1816 hours, UPD officers were detailed to a possible domestic violence incident at Motel 6 (1208 S. State St.). Officers were advised the female half of the incident was believed to have been injured during the altercation. While in route to the location, officers were advised by UPD Dispatch that the male suspect had possibly cut his own throat with a knife.
Three UPD officers arrived at the above listed location and contacted the male subject standing in the parking lot. The subject was holding a knife to his own throat and was yelling that he was going to kill himself. The officers could see that the subject had a small amount of blood on his neck from a minor self-inflicted laceration.
The officers attempted to calm the subject and asked him to put the knife down. The male refused to listen to the officers and advised the officers he was going to force them to shoot him. The subject repeatedly walked towards the officers with the knife in his hand and repeatedly said he had done things that he could not take back.
Believing an involved female was still on the property and possibly injured, the officers requested MCSO deputies respond and check the male subject’s hotel room for any injured persons. MCSO deputies arrived on scene and searched the hotel, but did not locate any injured persons. UPD officers requested a mental health professional respond to their location and attempt to speak with the male. While waiting for a mental health worker to arrive the male again began advancing on the officers while wielding the knife. One officer deployed his taser at the male but it had no effect on him.
A mental health professional arrived a short time later and attempted to contact the male subject from a safe distance. The male would not communicate with the mental health worker and continued to make threats to attack the on-scene officers. While the subject was distracted by the mental health worker, a UPD officer deployed a second taser at the male subject. The taser was effective and caused the male to drop the knife and fall to the ground. Officers immediately ran to the subject and safely detained him.
The male was transported to the AHUV Emergency Room where he was placed on a mental health evaluation hold.
The male subject sustained a small laceration to his forehead when he fell to the ground after the taser was deployed at him. As mentioned earlier, the subject had a minor self inflicted laceration to his neck, but it was not life threatening. No officers were injured during the incident. It was later determined the male subject had been involved in a verbal argument, but an act of domestic violence had not been committed.
