Santee Medical Building Evacuated During Search For Allegedly Armed Man

SANTEE, CA — A medical building in Santee was evacuated Saturday while San Diego County sheriff's deputies searched for a possibly armed suspect only to find an unarmed man experiencing a mental health crisis.

The deputies were called just before 3 p.m. Saturday to the Sharp Rees- Stealy Medical Group building at 8701 Cuyamaca St., near Buena Vista Avenue, according to Sgt. Steve Chambers of the Santee Sheriff's Station.

Deputies evacuated the building "in an abundance of caution" while searching for the reported suspect, and eventually found a man experiencing a mental health crisis but no weapons, Chambers said. A further description of the man was not provided.

The man was taken into custody and evaluated by a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team clinician before being placed on a 72-hour hold for mental health treatment, the sergeant said.

There were no injuries to patients, medical staff or deputies, he said.