AZUSA >> Police used a Taser to subdue and arrest a man who had been threatening his roommates with knives in Azusa early Saturday, officials said.
Vincent Pauley, 25, was ultimately booked on suspicion of brandishing a knife, as well as an outstanding burglary warrant, Azusa police Sgt. Andy Sutcliffe said in a written statement.
Officers first received a report about 3:45 a.m. that Pauley was standing in their living room in the 500 block of North Dalton Avenue, brandishing a knife in each hand, the sergeant said.
“He refused the residents requests to put the knives down, and according to them, had not slept for four days and was behaving irrationally,” Sutcliffe said. “Officers also discovered he had an outstanding no-bail arrest warrant for burglary.”
Two residents of the home exited when officers arrived, he said. But one man remained inside, and was last seen inside the living room with Pauley.
“It was unclear to the officers if this man was at risk of being stabbed,” Sutcliffe said.
After Pauley refused commands to surrender, officers made their way into the home.
“Officers found Pauley standing in the middle of the living room, motionless and staring intently at them. He carried a fixed blade knife in his hand with the blade pointing at the officers,” Sutcliffe said.
“Although he dropped that knife after being told to do so, the location of the second knife was unknown, and he refused officers’ directions to raise his hands and walk outside,” according to the sergeant. ”One officer deployed the Taser, which immediately incapacitated Pauley and allowed officers to safely take him into custody without injury to anyone. The other male in the living room was found uninjured.”
According to Los Angeles County booking records, Pauley was being held without bail pending his initial court appearance, scheduled Monday in the West Covina branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court.