Deputies stop machete-wielding vet suffering PTSD from killing himself in Shingletown

SHINGLETOWN – Deputies confronted a suicidal military veteran who was armed with a machete and a large knife, Friday, May 6. Despite having already written a suicide note and threatening to slash his own throat, deputies were successful in calming the man and detaining him. Deputies determined the man was a military veteran suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He was later transported to Shasta Regional Medical Center for a mental health evaluation.

Shascom emergency communications dispatchers received a 911 call at about 12:56 p.m., from an anonymous caller reporting a male subject who was waving a machete at passerby’s and motorists. The machete-wielding man was reportedly in the area of Reed’s Market in Shingletown. “Deputies responded to the area for public’s safety, to look for subject and check on his welfare,” Shasta County Sheriff’s Deputy J. Ruiz wrote in a press release about the incident.

While searching in the area of Highway 44 and Emigrant Trail, a short distance east of Reed’s market, deputies saw a male walking eastbound on the north side of Highway 44.

As deputies were approaching the man they saw he was carrying a backpack and appeared to have an object in his left hand, concealed between his arm and body. Ruiz only described the subject as “a 26-year-old armed services veteran from another county in California.”

Deputies stopped and attempt to talk with the man, but he ignored them and continued walking eastbound for a short distance. At that point, deputies confirmed he was still carrying the machete in his left hand. Deputies ordered him to stop and put the machete down.

Without ever saying a word, the man stopped, put the machete down, and removed his backpack. He then started to walk east again but was repeatedly ordered by deputies to stop. The man finally appeared to obey the deputies commands to get onto the ground so he could be detained for his safety and the safety of other citizens.

The man initially followed the deputies directions and got onto his knees. However, as he extended his left arm out, he suddenly pulled a large knife with a 5 inch fixed blade from his jacket or waistband area. He then held the knife up to his neck and told deputies he had written, “the letter,” indicating a possible suicide note.

Deputies continued to try to reason with the suicidal man and attempted to calm him while asking him to put his knife down. “After several minutes of talking to the male, he removed the knife from his neck area and tossed it away from his reach. Deputies then approached the male and detained him,” Ruiz explained. “Neither the male nor deputies sustained any injuries during this incident.”

Deputies determined the man was suffering from PTSD and had been unable to find work since his release from the military. During their investigation, they later found a suicide note the man had written in his backpack. Deputies transported the man to Shasta Regional Medical Center for a mental health evaluation.
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