Santa Cruz police officers receive extensive training in using less-lethal methods to bring a suspect into custody. That came in handy last night.
Police say Carlos Gustavo Monroy first refused to drop a machete. He did but then refused to put his arms up to show his hands when officer told him to do so.
Police used one 40 mm launcher, which fires a sponge-tipped round in an attempt to get him to comply.
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 less-lethal weapons allowed officers to de-escalate what could easily have become a deadly situation.
