Community

On Monday, 9/19/16, at 10:22am, the Berkeley Police Department received a 911 call from a residence on the 1500 block of Prince Street. The reporting party stated she locked herself in the bedroom because her 34 year old son had been smoking drugs and that he was making threats towards her and her older son.

When officers arrived, the older son was coming down the external staircase telling the subject to stay away from him. The subject went back inside the apartment, retrieved a knife and came outside holding it, threatening to kill officers. The mother then came out of the apartment and was able to get the knife away from her son. The subject retreated back into the apartment where he locked himself inside and alone. At this time, officers were able to get the mother and older son to a safe location.

On scene personnel utilized a police negotiator and available mental health professionals to attempt to contact the subject and negotiate his surrender. Over the following three hours, numerous conversations were had with the subject who appeared to be mentally ill, had erratic behavior and was likely under the influence of illegal drugs. On two occasions during this incident, the subject threw glass bottles at the officers’ outside. The bottles shattered at the officers’ feet, but no officers or bystanders were injured. Throughout the incident, the subject repeatedly came to the window and threatened to kill the officers.

After three hours of sustained and often difficult negotiations, the subject ultimately agreed to come outside. When he did, he was successfully detained without incident. He was taken to a medical facility on an emergency psychiatric hold. Criminal charges are possible and currently being investigated.

All blocked roads have now re-opened.