VIDEO: Bat-wielding suspect tackled by officer, arrested at West Covina Police Department

ByCarlos Granda and ABC7.com staff KABC logo
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
VIDEO: Bat-wielding man tackled, arrested at West Covina PD
West Covina police officers talk to ABC7 about a bizarre incident involving a man wielding a bat at the police station.

WEST COVINA, Calif. (KABC) -- A bat-wielding man was taken into custody Monday morning after he threatened civilians and bystanders at the West Covina Police Department.

Authorities said Christopher Rivas, 28, was arrested for alleged assault with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer. The incident began about 10:18 a.m.

Surveillance video shows the suspect striking the large glass windows of the station's front lobby repeatedly. Inside the lobby, there was panic. Three civilian women inside immediately ran and entered a secured area of the lobby.

"At this point, he was yelling, 'I'm coming in, I'm coming in,'" said Rudy Lopez of the West Covina Police Department.

The suspect then walked to the doorway and continued swinging, slamming the open door several times.

What you don't see on the video is that as the suspect was standing outside the lobby, there was an officer at the doorway inside with a gun pointed at him. That's why he didn't move.

While the suspect was distracted, an officer ran up from behind and tackled him to the ground. Several other officers then helped the officer subdue and handcuff the suspect.

Rivas, who suffered minor injuries, was transported to a hospital for treatment. He was cited and released to the custody of the Los Angeles County Medical Center, police said.

No one else was hurt, and the building's windows were not broken.