Police: officers used Taser on 82-year-old man with knife

Boise Police responded to a report of shots fired early Sunday and officers deployed a Taser against an 82-year-old man they say was holding a large knife.

The incident occurred around 4:15 a.m. in the 100 block of West Driftwood Road. When officers arrived they found the suspect, an 82-year-old man, sitting in a pickup truck, according to BPD. Police did not release the man’s name.

Knowing the suspect was likely armed, officers issued commands to the suspect to exit the vehicle. The suspect appeared disoriented and began reaching around in his vehicle before he grabbed and held up a large knife, according to police.. Officers continued to try and communicate with the suspect and he eventually got out of the vehicle.

Police said the suspect still would not listen to commands to drop the knife and he remained by his vehicle. Despite continued attempts by officers to get the suspect to drop the knife,police say he continued to hold on to the deadly weapon and was acting irrationally.

Officers deployed a Taser to stop the “already volatile situation from escalating” and to prevent the suspect from reentering the vehicle and possibly accessing a firearm, which he had already fired, according to police.

Once the Taser was deployed, the suspect gave up the knife and was placed in handcuffs and escorted to a nearby patrol vehicle. During a search of the suspect’s vehicle, officers found a revolver with three spent shell casings.

The suspect was taken to the hospital and the investigation has been routed to the prosecutor for charges.

This story was originally published June 19, 2017 at 7:54 PM with the headline "Police: officers used Taser on 82-year-old man with knife."