Suicidal man wearing “Cop Killer” shirt subdued by SLO sheriff’s deputies

CAMBRIA, Calif. - San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's deputies were able to subdue a Cambria man who was reportedly suicidal and made multiple verbal threats against law enforcement officers.

The sheriff's office responded to a home on the 3200 block of Bradford Circle in Cambria after witnesses reported that a resident was covered in blood and making threats. When deputies arrived on scene they located the 36-year-old man who lived at the home.

The sheriff's office said the man was wearing a homemade shirt with the words "Cop Killer" written on them. A spokesman for the sheriff's office said deputies suspected that the man might attempt to commit suicide by cop.

Deputies also learned that the man had made threats to kill his mother who also lived at the home.

While deputies attempted to negotiate with the man to surrender, the man was seen thrown items down an embankment in the backyard and going in and out of the house repeatedly.

A sheriff's spokesman said the man had access to multiple weapons including a pellet gun, machete and a folding knife. None of the weapons were ever used.

At one point, the sheriff's office said, the man ran at deputies after refusing to show his hands. Realizing that the man was having a mental health crisis, deputies deployed a bean bag round which struck him. He returned back into his home after being hit.

He eventually came out again and was subdued by deputies after again refusing to show his hands.

He was then taken to a hospital to be medically cleared before being booked into jail. He faces possible charges for resisting arrest and threatening to commit a crime.

The sheriff's office says the man is receiving mental health care while in jail.

If you are feeling suicidal, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. You can also chat with a counselor online.