Man threatens ambulance crew during transport

A man was taken into custody this week after reportedly threatening and chasing an ambulance crew attempting to take him to the hospital, the Fort Bragg Police Department reported.

According to the FBPD, officers responded to assist an Adventist Health Mendocino Coast ambulance after a man reportedly “became agitated while being transported, and began fighting medical staff.”

The ambulance crew told officers that “the suspect was able to obtain a pair of medical shears requiring the ambulance crew to stop and evacuate the ambulance. He was able to free himself, utilizing the medical shears and began chasing medical staff around the ambulance while brandishing the shears in a threatening manner.”

When officers arrived at the scene, they reported seeing the suspect fleeing the area while carrying the shears. “As officers approached and ordered him to stop, he began making slashing motions and threatening gestures with the shears towards officers.” After refusing to comply with orders given by the officers, the suspect “continued through the parking lot of the Sea Bird Lodge and onto the 700 block of South Franklin Street as officers followed.”

When the suspect stopped “in the parking lot of the Cottages at Cypress Street, which is a senior living facility… he approached a residence at the location and attempted to enter.” Knowing that the suspect did not live there and fearing for the safety of the residents, “an officer on scene deployed their TASER device successfully, allowing the suspect to be taken into custody without further incident.”

The FBPD reports that the man was then “taken to the emergency room at the Adventist Mendocino Coast Hospital for medical treatment and mental health evaluation, (and that) drugs may be a factor in this case.

The suspect is facing several charges as yet to be determined.” The man was not identified by the FBPD.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact Acting Sergeant Ferris of the Fort Bragg Police Department at (707) 961-2800, ext. 139.