BEAUMONT — A Beaumont Police Department response Thursday night to a stalled vehicle in a travel lane on Interstate 10 quickly escalated to a tense situation involving a man armed with a knife who began setting his car on fire, but through quick, calm action, BPD safely intervened.
The call came in shortly before 9:30 p.m. Thursday, with officers sent to the 3900 block of Interstate 10 and a reported traffic problem involving a stalled vehicle in a travel lane.
When officers arrived, they were confronted by a man inside the vehicle who was armed with a knife and making threats of violence. Officers also saw that he was severely bleeding. Police say despite repeated commands, the man refused to comply and began setting the vehicle on fire.
Officers were eventually able to safely take the man into custody and put out the car fire. He was transported to a hospital for treatment of physical injuries and a mental health evaluation.
“This incident serves as a reminder that calls for service can rapidly evolve into unpredictable and high-risk situations,” said BPD in a statement. “What began as a routine traffic complaint quickly turned into a dangerous encounter, requiring swift action to ensure the safety of the public and responding officers. The Beaumont Police Department commends the officers involved for their professionalism, quick decision-making, and commitment to public safety.”