RogerSuicidal Subject Call Leads to the Arrest of Buellton Man for Making Criminal Threats
At approximately 6:15 pm last night, November 10, 2018, Sheriff’s deputies responded to an apartment in the 500 block of Avenue of Flags in Buellton to a report of a suicidal subject. When deputies arrived, they determined the subject had barricaded himself inside the apartment and refused to come out. The 44-year-old male made statements indicating that he would fill up his apartment with gas and blow up the building. Due to the potential danger to public safety, Sheriff’s Deputies evacuated the apartment building and an emergency notification was sent out to residents in the immediate area to shelter in place. Santa Barbara County Fire Department personnel responded and turned off the gas to the building.
Sheriff’s deputies secured a perimeter and the Special Enforcement Team and Hostage Negotiation Team were called in to assist. Every effort was made to resolve the situation peacefully and get the suicidal subject to surrender to law enforcement. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies obtained and served an arrest warrant at the residence. When they made entry inside, they discovered the male subject had attempted suicide and was in urgent need of medical care. He was combative with deputies but was detained and transported to the hospital for medical treatment. A box cutter was located inside the residence.
The Buellton resident was booked in absentia on charges of making criminal threats. His name is being withheld at this time due to his mental health issues.
Update by an edhat reader
I live in the area and saw all of the emergency vehicles. It’s unfortunate, but the man was suicidal and refusing to leave his apartment. The entire apartment building was evacuated while police investigated and tried to coerce him out to safety.
We were notified to shelter in place and received updates on edhat from Roger. Neighbors stated the man said he poured himself and his apartment in gasoline.
It wasn’t until 11:30 p.m. that law enforcement entered the residence and took the man to the hospital. Everything died down about an hour later.
Stand off in the 500 Block of Avenue of the Flags in Buellton. A man with a box cutter covered in blood threatening to burn his place down. SBSO on scene with a command post bring in the Bear Cat.
There are going back and forth up the freeway from down South to this incident I believe.
Another one going by…
Not sure what they are up tp waiting I guess..
They are maintaining their position I’m not Roger over and out.
2 comments about the comments: First, Noozhawk didn’t have that much more useful info , so staying at EH seems to be preferable for me, and 2, its better to see the info & the comments. Seeing other people’s thoughts makes one feel connected to their community and any extra (wo)man-on-the-street info is always appreciated… even if its conjecture. Thanks EH for continuing to let us comment, even if sometimes I think the nanny hat is a little tight sometimes.