Man armed with a box cutter is hit in the jaw with a less-lethal projectile

On May 10, 2022, around 8:40 a.m., Foothill Division Patrol officers responded to a radio call of a burglary suspect at a recycling center located in the 12000 block of Brandford Street. The suspect reportedly burglarized this location the day prior and returned a second time armed with a knife.

Upon being confronted by store employees, the suspect fled on foot and was observed entering a large inactive strip mine nearby. Metropolitan Division K9 officers responded to the scene and ultimately located the suspect hiding on a steep hillside covered in heavy brush. The suspect refused to surrender and threw several large rocks at officers, which prompted the deployment of 40mm less-lethal projectile rounds. The suspect was ultimately taken into custody with the assistance of officers from the Metropolitan Division’s Special Weapons and Tactics climbing cadre.

The suspect was transported by rescue ambulance to a local hospital and was later admitted for an injury he sustained to his mouth. Based on the totality of the circumstances and an opinion given by the treating physician, it is believed the suspect’s injury was caused by a less-lethal projectile that inadvertently struck him on the left side of his jaw.

No officers were injured during the incident.