Cops use rubber bullets, Taser in arrest

Costa Mesa police used a Taser and rubber bullets to subdue a man who was allegedly threatening his wife and police with a box cutter, police said.

Police were called to a residence in the 900 block of Arbor Street on reports that a man was threatening “to slice his own throat” and attack his wife with a box cutter, said Costa Mesa Lt. Dale Birney.

When police arrived, the man was outside in the front yard, but retreated inside and locked himself in a room in the house.

After the man’s wife let police into the house, the man came out of the room and threatened police officers with the box cutter, Birney said.

Police then used a 40-millimeter gun to fire a “hard rubber projectile,” Birney said. The nonlethal bullet had no effect on the man; police used the Taser, and the man was taken into custody.

The man, who police could not identify as of late Friday, was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.

Any time a Taser is used, the suspect must be medically evaluated, Birney said. The man will be released and sent to Orange County Jail, where he will be booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Birney said.