UTICA, NEW YORK – A 36-year-old man, Han San, was arrested on Friday after attempting to enter the Nurulislam Nabu Myanman Muslim Community Mosque with a knife. Utica Police responded to the scene, where San threatened officers with the weapon.
“As the first officer arrived, the male immediately turned his attention to him and began to threaten the officer with the knife. The officer drew his Taser and gave the male several orders to drop the knife, all of which were ignored,” the Utica Police Department reported. “As the male continued to encroach upon the officer, the officer deployed the Taser against the male, however due to his clothing the Taser was unsuccessful. The officer then attempted to put some distance between him and the party, and drew his handgun. The male continued to ignore the commands, and attempted to come toward him.”
The situation was resolved with the use of a bean bag shotgun and Taser, leading to San’s arrest. He now faces charges of menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
As officers were arriving, one officer grabbed a less-than-lethal shotgun from his vehicle while another Sergeant maneuvered behind the party with his taser.
“Multiple additional commands were given to the suspect to drop the knife, however again all were ignored. Based on the male’s continued non-compliance, the Sergeant fired several bean bag rounds at the suspect stunning him,” UPD said today. “Immediately the other Sergeant then deployed his Taser, dropping the male to the ground, and these combined actions caused him to drop the knife.”
Officers then handcuffed the party, who was ultimately transported to the Utica Police Department.