Police Defuse San Mateo Armed Standoff

SAN MATEO — Potential hostages were safely removed from a San Mateo home where a barricaded man who was in possession of knives while experiencing a mental health crisis was disarmed Thursday night, police said in a news release

Occupants trapped in the home were removed from their bedroom windows and police avoided booby traps designed to trip them when they entered the home, police said.

No injuries were reported and the man who was barricaded in the home is receiving mental health treatment, police said.

A woman reported to police Thursday night that her roommate was outside her door armed with knives and was acting unstable.

Police officers who arrived on the scene found the person was experiencing hallucinations and delusions armed with two large knives, and learned he had threatened to murder two of his roommates, police said. There were five people in the home.

Crisis intervention trained (CIT) officers and Emergency Response Team officers negotiated with the man.

Officers removed some people from their bedroom windows and communicated directly with those who were trapped in windowless rooms, police said.

Two hours of negotiations culminated with the man’s surrender. He was transported to a mental health facility shortly afterward.

The San Mateo Police Department said it advocates crisis intervention training (CIT), noting that police officers undergo a 40-hour intensive program in addition to de-escalation training.

“Our hope is to always show individuals there are options and other paths available to assist them through their crisis,” the Department said in a statement.

“Through collaborative community partnerships and intensive training, CIT improves communication, identifies mental health resources for those in crisis, and ensures officer and community safety.”

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) created a short video explaining CIT.