Man Arrested after Standoff with Police

By Lookout Staff

Dec. 29 -- A man was arrested after chasing a cab driver, then slashing himself with a knife during a standoff with police on a Santa Monica street Saturday afternoon, police said.

The suspect, who was driven from his vehicle after police deployed three rounds of tear gas, was taken to a local hospital where he is undergoing a 72-hour psychological evaluation, police said.

Police responded to 5th Street and Wilshire Boulevard at 1:41 p.m. after receiving reports that a man in his early forties was in a stopped vehicle in the middle of the street yelling at passing cars, police said.

The suspect brandished a knife at a taxi cab driver and chased him both on foot and in his vehicle, police said. Responding officers saw the suspect entering his vehicle and eventually stopped him at 4th Street and Arizona Avenue.

The suspect, however, refused to exit his vehicle and brandished a knife at officers, who blocked the suspect's vehicle with squad cars to prevent him from fleeing, police said.

During the detention, the suspect inflicted several non-life-threatening wounds to his arms and upper body, police said.

The Crisis Negotiation Team attempted to talk the suspect into surrendering, but he refused to acknowledge their requests, police said.

When the armed suspect continued to stab himself, the Special Entry Team deployed three tear gas rounds into the suspect's vehicle, police said. The suspect was then taken into custody without further incident.