Officer Injured Trying to Stop Man From Cutting Himself

This is a press release from the Arcata Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On 03/16/2018 at 06:44 AM, Arcata Police Department officers were dispatched to a report of a theft which had just occurred from a business at 5000 Valley West Blvd.

Upon arrival, officers’ attempted to contact the subject in a vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot. The male locked himself in the vehicle and refused to comply with officer’s orders to exit the vehicle or roll down his windows. As officers spoke to the male through the vehicle’s window, the man retrieved a knife from inside his vehicle and started to cut his neck.

Officers broke the passenger’s side window of the vehicle in order to gain access and attempt to stop him from further harming himself. Officers were able to take the knife from the male, however during the struggle an Arcata Police Officer sustained a laceration to his hand.

The male subject, who was later identified as Christopher Michael Slocum, 45, of Clayton, Indiana, was arrested and transported to Mad River Community Hospital where he was treated for self-inflicted injuries. Slocum was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on one count of PC 69- Obstruct/Resist Executive Officer.

The injured Arcata Police Officer was transported to Mad River Community Hospital where he was treated and later released.