Fallbrook CA— On March 1, 2016 at 5:17 p.m., Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call of an emotionally disturbed subject who had flooded his apartment with natural gas from the stove and threatened to light the apartment on fire. Fire personnel turned off the gas to the entire apartment complex and neighboring apartments were evacuated. The Red Cross responded to assist and the displaced tenants were directed to a nearby church.
Deputies made call outs for the subject to exit the apartment, but he refused. Deputies used a less lethal weapon to break out a window to ventilate the apartment and to better communicate with the subject. The Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) attempted to establish communication with the male subject but they were unsuccessful. At 11:38 p.m. deputies approached the apartment in order to contact the subject. Deputies observed the male hiding behind furniture and refusing to comply with deputies’ orders to exit the apartment.
Deputies entered the apartment and the subject resisted arrest. Force was used to gain control of the emotionally disturbed male subject. He was evaluated for injuries by paramedics, and later transported to Tri-City Hospital and placed on a 72-hour mental health evaluation hold. There were no other reported injuries during this incident. Following the arrest, the displaced tenants were returned to their apartments.