Redding Police responded to the 900 block of Hartnell Ave. after receiving a report of a man who was armed with a knife, acting erratically and threatening employees at a business in the area on Friday at around 6:35 p.m.
When officers arrived on scene, employees of the business provided a physical description of the man and said he left the area on a bike.
Officers searched the area and located the suspect, Eric Thomas-Smith, 29, near the intersection of E. Cypress Ave. and Larkspur Lane.
When officers contacted Thomas-Smith, he was agitated, said that he was in possession of a knife and proclaimed that he was not going to go back to prison.
De-escalation techniques were used but Thomas-Smith remained confrontational, was uncooperative with verbal commands and began to walk away from officers.
Thomas-Smith took off from the scene and officers were unable to stop him.
K-9 unit Duke was able to successfully apprehend Thomas-Smith, allowing officers to safely detain him.
During his arrest Thomas-Smith was found to be in possession of a fixed blade knife and admitted to being under the influence of methamphetamine.
Thomas-Smith was treated at a hospital for injuries he sustained during the apprehension. He was then booked into the Shasta County Jail on charges related to criminal threats, brandishing, resisting arrest and parole violation.
News Source: Action News Now
