STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – Police have released bodycam footage of the arrest of a man armed with a hatchet in Sterling Heights.
According to authorities, the man was waving around a hatchet inside a restaurant on Van Dyke Avenue, near 18 Mile Road.
“He was wavering around a hatchet within the business, scaring customers and employees,” said Lt. Mario Bastianelli.
Officers encountered the man as he was leaving and he allegedly made threats toward the police. Bastianelli said the man was experiencing a mental breakdown and police de-escalated the situation by reasoning with the man and trying to convince him to put down the hatchet.
“He was creating great dialogue with them and de-escalating. Funny enough, he’s one of our brand new officers, technically in training,” Bastianelli said of one of the officers. “But clearly, his experience and many many years being in law enforcement was able to allow him to handle that situation.”
While the officer spoke with the man, another officer took the opportunity to use a rubber bullet to subdue him and drop the hatchet.
“Within a second, that can turn into a deadly force incident,” Bastianelli said. “Our officers, if they don’t react quick enough, they could end up getting struck with that weapon.”
The man was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for a mental health evaluation.
The investigation is ongoing.