Man shoots self in foot during struggle with officers, police say

Police said a man shot himself in the foot while wrestling with officers over a gun before he and a woman were arrested Sunday morning.

The incident occurred just after midnight at a Motel 6 at 775 N. Mathilda Avenue, according to a news release from Sunnyvale police. The officers were there to perform a security check, police said, and focused on a “suspicious” vehicle occupied by a man and a woman.

Police said both people inside lied about their names when approached by officers, then the 31-year-old man fled the car. Officers said they saw him reach into his waistband, prompting one to fire a stun gun at the man, which caused him to fall to the ground.

As officers wrestled with the man after the stun-gun shot, they saw a gun in his hand, according to the police statement. The man fired two shots during the struggle, police said, striking himself once in the foot before he was arrested.

While police were struggling with the man, the woman also fled, according to the statement. She attempted to hail a rideshare but was found a short distance away. Authorities said they arrested her for a probation violation and outstanding felony warrants.

Police said the male suspect was treated at a hospital before being released into custody. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and for an outstanding felony warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm, authorities said.