Suicidal Subject Threatens to Set Fire to Apt.
updated: Jul 16, 2012, 8:51 PM

By SBPD

On July 16, 2012 at 1:56 p.m., officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department responded to 1119 Punta Gorda Street, Apt. A, on a call of a resident locked out of his apartment by a roommate. Upon arrival officers found a 26-year old woman locked inside of her residence and refusing to come out. The woman was suicidal and exhibiting bizarre behavior, possibly under the influence of drugs. Investigation indicated that she was distraught over a child custody issue.

The woman threatened to leave the gas on inside of the apartment and cause an explosion. Shortly thereafter, the officer on the perimeter that was attempting to speak to her detected what he recognized to be the smell of kerosene. The Fire Department responded and shut off the gas to the affected complex while officers evacuated surrounding residents. Attempts to convince the woman to come out of the apartment ensued, however she continued to act strangely. She repeatedly brandished a knife and at times held it to her neck. Additionally, she set fire at various times to a broom, a towel, trash, photographs, and other objects inside the residence.

At 4:19 p.m., while a set of storage drawers and other items were burning inside of the apartment, officers breached the front door and made entry. They extinguished the fires with a fire extinguisher and took the woman into custody. She was transported from the scene to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Emergency Room for medical and mental health evaluations.

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