KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A Santa Clarita man stabbed himself in the neck after locking himself inside an SUV during a tense, hours-long standoff with authorities in Canyon Country Saturday night.
The incident happened after a hit-and-run crash on the northbound 5 Freeway near San Fernando Mission Road just after 6:20 p.m., when a gray Mercedes-Benz SUV collided with another vehicle and fled the scene, according to California Highway Patrol.
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Officers were able to track the vehicle to a Santa Clarita residence, where the suspect returned and barricaded himself inside the SUV.
Armed with a knife, 28-year-old Michael Emmanual Villalobos refused repeated commands from officers to exit the vehicle and began acting erratically, moving into the back seat and remaining uncooperative as officers surrounded the area.
For hours, crisis negotiators, sheriff’s deputies and a mental health response team worked to de-escalate the situation, attempting to safely take the man into custody. A family member also arrived at the scene and tried to convince him to surrender, but according to CHP that was not successful.
The situation escalated just before 11:30 p.m., when the man stabbed himself in the neck multiple times while still inside the vehicle.
Officers rushed in, issuing commands for him to drop the weapon. When he refused, a Taser was deployed, allowing officers to disarm him before he collapsed.
With the man suffering from a serious neck wound, officers immediately began life-saving measures until paramedics arrived and transported him to a local hospital.
CHP reports he was in stable condition.
No officers were injured during the incident.
The man is expected to face multiple charges, including hit-and-run and driving under the influence, and was placed on a 72-hour mental health hold as the investigation continues.
Anyone seeking information about mental health resources available in the Santa Clarita Valley can look here for a list of resources. There are 24-hour phone numbers available. In the event of an emergency, 911 should always be the first call. Those looking to speak with someone can call:
- 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 1-800-854-7771 for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
- 661-259-9439 for the SCV Child & Family Center
- 661-288-4800 for the Santa Clarita Valley Mental Health Center
- 661- 765-8445 for Insight Treatment Santa Clarita
- 661-347-6307 for Guardians SCV
- 1-866-488-7386 for the Trevor Project LGBTQ suicide helpline
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