Peninsula Man Who Attempted Suspected Suicide by Cop Referred to Mental Health Eval

By Bay City News Service:

A man shot by a South San Francisco police sergeant after brandishing a shotgun in August pleaded no contest to two felonies Monday in exchange for no prison time and a referral to mental health services, San Mateo County prosecutors said Tuesday.

Mike Gordon, 55, of South San Francisco entered the no contest plea in the courtroom of Judge Leland Davis to charges of threatening an officer and brandishing a firearm at an officer.

Gordon was spotted sitting with a shotgun near the corner of Del Monte and Romney avenues, near Alta Loma Middle School, at about 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 30, prosecutors said.

When officers arrived, they ordered him to stay seated but he got up and started walking toward the police. Ignoring orders to stop, Gordon allegedly raised the shotgun and pointed it at the officer, identified as police Sgt. Ken Hancock.

Hancock fired a single shot that hit Gordon in the side, prosecutors said. Gordon dropped the shotgun and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Investigators found he had previously attempted suicide and suspect he was trying to provoke police to kill him, prosecutors said.

Gordon was released on his own recognizance after the plea and is scheduled to return on Nov. 13 for placement in a mental health treatment program, prosecutors said.

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