Santa Cruz Police: Man with machete arrested using de-escalation techniques

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) A man was arrested in Santa Cruz when police got a report about someone smashing out car windows, but police said de-escalation techniques helped them avoid a worse outcome.

Officers responded to the area around Broadway Street and Clay Street Wednesday at around 7:20 p.m. after a report about someone smashing out car windows with a long pipe and a hammer.

When officers got there, they said they found the suspect, 31-year-old Carlos Gustavo Monroy, with a machete in a parking lot in the 200 block of Ocean Street.

At first, police said he refused to drop the machete and held it to his throat at one point, but eventually he did drop it. After that, police said he would not put his arms up to show his hands when instructed to do so.

Police said they used one 40 mm launcher, which fires a sponge-tipped round that is less effective at a 120-foot range, in an attempt to get him to comply. Officers said the launcher allows them to keep space between officers and the person while also allowing them to stay close enough to communicate and use a less-lethal weapon.

The suspect still would not comply, according to police, and reached into his waistband to pull out a hammer to throw at officers. Police said they used more less-lethal munitions and K-9 Luna. After that, officers were able to take Monroy into custody.

Monroy was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries he sustained during the arrest, and after that he was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail. He is charged with resisting arrest, assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a weapon in a threatening manner, assaulting a police officer and felony vandalism.

Police said the launcher and taser allowed officers to de-escalate what could have been a deadly situation.