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SAN PEDRO (CNS) - A man who allegedly threatened Los Angeles police officers while holding a knife was arrested after a standoff at his San Pedro residence, authorities said Tuesday.
Officers were sent to the 600 block of West 12th Street about 7 a.m. Monday on a radio call of "an individual suffering mental illness and threatening violence," the Los Angeles Police Department reported.
"The 911 caller advised the individual suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and was having suicidal and homicidal ideations," police said in a statement. "Furthermore, the individual threatened to shoot any police officers that responded to the scene.
"When the officers arrived and attempted to establish communications with the subject ... (he) initially exited his apartment while holding a large kitchen knife and threatened to stab, shoot, and kill officers if they approached him," police said.
The man, in his 60s, went back inside his residence and refused to come out, police said.
"Due to prior contacts with the subject, officers were aware that he was a military veteran and had been placed on prior mental evaluation hold at a local hospital," police said. "Officers also discovered that the subject had previously violated his parole and had an active warrant for his arrest."
Officers then contacted the department's Mental Evaluation Unit, and other personnel were sent to the scene, police said.
"An officer who has completed the LAPD's Mental Health Intervention Training began to talk to the subject and establish a rapport with him in an attempt to de-escalate the situation," police said.
"After two hours of speaking with the subject, officers were able to convince him to drop his knife in exchange for a pack of cigarettes," police said. "Once a pack of cigarettes was obtained and placed outside of the apartment, the subject exited and voluntarily dropped his knife over the side of the balcony."
Officers then arrested the man, without further incident, police said.
"Although the subject threatened to shoot officers, no gun was located at scene," police said.
The man was taken to a hospital for an examination, and he will be booked on the parole warrant, police said. His name was not released.