Knife-wielding man arrested after Shasta Lake standoff
CITY OF SHASTA LAKE — A probationer who reportedly held a knife to a woman’s throat while threatening to kill her was arrested after a brief standoff in the 4000 block of Parker St., in the City of Shasta Lake, Saturday evening, April 27.
The alleged suspect, who was reportedly suffering “an unknown mental breakdown,” was apprehended with the use of a Sheriff’s K-9, after barricading himself in a small bathroom inside a residence. He then reportedly fought with officers and the police service dog after they forced entry into the bathroom where the man was hiding and barricaded.
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Yesterday’s violent incident began about 6:12 p.m., when a person called SHASCOM to report that a neighbor had asked them to call 911 and request an ambulance, Shasta County Sheriff’s Sgt. Garet Baldwin later reported. The 911 caller also reported a man at a neighbor’s nearby residence was possibly suffering from a mental breakdown.
Although Shasta Lake Fire District and other medical personnel quickly arrived at the location, when they made contact with a victim, 38-year-old, Melissa Miller, they learned “that a male inside the residence placed a knife to her throat and told her he was going to kill her,” according to Baldwin, who said officials did find a small knife injury to the victim’s neck.
Based on the danger, fire and rescue personnel requested law enforcement assistance and left the residence, staging a safe distance down the street to wait for deputies to arrive.
When deputies arrived they located two victims, including Miller and the owner of the home, 60-year-old, Curtis Harris.
Miller and Harris told deputies that a man, later identified as Jesse Sanborn, 28, was a roommate at the home and “had been displaying bizarre behavior over the past couple of days,” explained Baldwin. The victims also reported Sanborn was possibly under the influence of a controlled substance, and was possibly suffering from “a mental health episode.”
A records check showed Sanborn is on probation for battery causing serious injury, and had been creating a disturbance in the residence with Harris.
“When Miller intervened, Sanborn placed a knife up to her throat, slightly cutting her, and made threats to kill her, causing her to fear for her safety,” said Baldwin.
Based on the circumstances, Miller and Harris were escorted to the next door neighbor’s residence for their safety, before deputies began trying to negotiate with Sanborn in an attempt to get him to exit the residence.
Despite their initial efforts at negotiating a peaceful surrender, “Sanborn refused to exit and ran to a back bedroom, and told deputies he wasn’t going to exit the residence,” according to Baldwin.
“Deputies surrounded the residence and used a patrol vehicle’s PA (public announcement) speaker, making multiple announcements ordering Sanborn out of the residence,” Baldwin explained. “Deputies also attempted to contact Sanborn by the residence telephone, with negative results.”
After no response from Sanborn, deputies – with assistance from K-9 “Hondo” – entered the residence to search for Sanborn, who was found to have barricaded himself inside a small bathroom toward the rear of the residence.
“Sanborn had the bathroom door locked and barricaded, and he refused to open the door for deputies,” said Baldwin.
Deputies eventually forced the bathroom door open, at which time Hondo was deployed to take Sanborn into custody. Sanborn still refused to be taken into custody and began fighting with the K-9.
“Even after being bit by Hondo, Sanborn continued to fight with Hondo and the deputies, refusing to comply with their orders,” said Baldwin. “After a brief struggle, Sanborn was placed in handcuffs, removed from the residence, and transported to Shasta Regional Medical Center for treatment for his minor injuries.”
After being treated, Sanborn was transported to Shasta County Jail and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, resisting arrest, interfering with a police K-9, and violation of probation.
Anyone with further information about this investigation is encouraged to contact SCSO at (530) 245-6540. Callers can refer to incident file number 19S015579 and can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.