At approximately 7:00 p.m. on July 21, 2018, Sheriff’s Deputies from the Lompoc and Santa Maria Stations, as well as the California Highway Patrol, Lompoc Police Department and California State Parks responded to report of a suicidal subject in a motorhome at the Jalama Beach Campground. The subject, a 63-year old male from Arizona, was in possession of a loaded handgun and threatened to shoot himself.

With the assistance of our allied agencies including the Santa Barbara County Sheriff/Fire Air Support Unit, the campground was partially evacuated and a dialogue was started with the subject. While being asked to exit the motorhome, the subject repeatedly opened the door and at one time had a handgun pointed to his head.

After more than one hour of consistent efforts of Sheriff’s personnel to communicate with the subject, Deputies were able to calm him and deescalate the situation to the point where they were able to safely assist paramedics in transporting him to a local hospital for treatment and a mental health evaluation.

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