The Hollister man who held a steak knife while shouting for
police to shoot him Tuesday at Hazel Hawkins Hospital won’t be
arrested, according to police.
The Hollister man who held a steak knife while shouting for police to shoot him Tuesday at Hazel Hawkins Hospital won’t be arrested, according to police.
After completing a probe, investigators concluded 21-year-old Jeff Sanchez didn’t intend to hurt anybody at the scene and therefore won’t be charged with a crime, said Detective Tony Lamonica.
Police believe Sanchez had no intention of hurting anyone except possibly himself. During the episode, he often told police to shoot him.
“He didn’t wave the knife at any officers,” Lamonica said.
Sanchez showed up to his mother’s workplace at the hospital Tuesday afternoon and confronted her while holding a six-inch knife with no handle. Police said he was under the influence of alcohol.
Sanchez, his mother and another woman were in an office before Sanchez let them go. Eventually, he tried to leave through an emergency exit. Police say he then advanced toward officers while holding the blade. And an officer shot him to his knees with non-lethal bean bags, causing him to drop the knife.
Sanchez was taken by the Mental Health Department for evaluation. But it’s unclear how long he remained in their custody because federal regulations prohibit the release of such information.
Lamonica said Sanchez wouldn’t be arrested on suspicion of attempted assault. And for an arrest to be made on suspicion of disturbing the peace or brandishing a weapon – both misdemeanors – someone involved would have to press charges, and no one has, he said.
