Man Breaking Car Windows With Machete Prompts Redlands School Lockdown

REDLANDS, CA — Police apprehended a man who was breaking car windows with a machete while armed with a paintball rifle in Redlands on Wednesday morning, officials said.

The incident prompted a precautionary lockdown at Judson and Brown Elementary School nearby, the Redlands Police Department said.

Initially, police received a report at 8:30 a.m. of a couple arguing in the 1400 block of Paiute Avenue, but a man left on foot before officers arrived. Shortly after, he was reported breaking car windows with a machete.

The man, whose identity has not been released, was also wearing a tactical vest with a rifle strapped to his torso, which turned out to be a paintball gun. Officers found him at the intersection of Lugonia Avenue and Judson Street.

The Press-Enterprise reported that the man told police that he made statements that indicated that he wanted to kill himself.

According to Redlands police, he was uncooperative with officers but was eventually taken into custody with minor injuries. No officers were injured.

The man was taken to a hospital to be placed on a mental health hold of psychiatric evaluation, police said.