Humboldt County Man Arrested for Allegedly Brandishing Fixed-Blade Knife, Making Criminal Threats
Above: Jason Balke
(Photo courtesy of HCSO)
A Humboldt County man was recently arrested after allegedly brandishing a fixed-blade knife in public.
According to a press release by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report disturbance on the 1900 block of Sutter Road in McKinleyville on the morning of November 30.
Arriving deputies reportedly encountered an individual identified as 43-year-old Jason Balke, who was alleged to have been brandishing a large fixed-blade knife. Balke was standing in the middle of the road and allegedly displayed the knife in a threatening manner when he saw the deputies.
Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, Balke refused and fled the scene on foot. Deputies pursued Balke onto Central Avenue, requesting a lockdown of the nearby Safeway store in the interest of public safety.
In an effort to disarm Balke, deputies deployed “less lethal” bean bag rounds from a shotgun. These rounds struck Balke, but he did not drop the knife and continued towards Safeway, the Sheriff’s Office said.
At that point, deputies used a Taser device to subdue him. Balke sustained minor injuries but was ultimately taken into custody.
He was transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation, then booked at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on suspicion of resisting arrest, brandishing a weapon, criminal threats, and probation violation.
It was unclear at press time whether Balke had retained an attorney.
