Santa Barbara Man Arrested At Leadbetter Beach Friday After Threatening Police

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A 34-year-old Santa Barbara man was arrested after verbally threatening and brandishing a weapon at officers at Leadbetter Beach Friday.

On Sep. 11, around 12:45 p.m., officers were handling a call for service in the 800 block of Shoreline Drive when an uninvolved man, later identified as a 34-year-old Santa Barbara man, approached the officers, verbally threatened them, and then brandished "an edged weapon" detailed the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Officers attempted to detain the armed man, but he refused to comply with verbal commands and instead, fled toward crowds of people near Leadbetter Beach stated the local law enforcement agency.

According to Santa Barbara Police, the 34-year-old fled onto the beach and into the ocean while ignoring repeated commands to drop the weapon.

Attempts to de-escalate the situation failed and officers deployed less-than-lethal sponge munitions on the 34-year-old who was in ankle-deep waves explained the Santa Barbara Police Department.

After being struck by the sponge munitions, the man dropped the weapon and officers were able to take him into custody without further incident shared the law enforcement agency.

The man was taken to Cottage Hospital for a medical evaluation and he was then booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail noted the Santa Barbara Police Department.

The incident remains under investigation added the local police department.