By F. Scott Faulkner
Santa Barbara County, CA
A 911 emergency called resulted in a lengthy standoff and ultimately the arrest of a Santa Maria man.
On the afternoon of January 19, Santa Maria Police Department patrol units responded to a
residential neighborhood apartment complex following a 911 emergency call
reporting a man “behaving erratically and armed with a large knife,” according to SMPD’s
Watch Commander spokesman .
Officers identified the suspect as Michael Achterberg, 45, who had reportedly “caused disturbances” at the apartment complex over the prior two days.
Earlier that same day, witnesses indicated to the cops on the scene that Achterberg had attempted
to assault a resident “with a large knife” in the complex’s parking lot.
Officers approached Achterberg’s nearby apartment, but he refused to cooperate, barricading
himself inside while bellowing verbal threats at the cops. Patrol units promptly contained the area and evacuated nearby residents as a
precautionary measure. The department’s Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) arrived on the
scene and engaged Achterberg in prolonged negotiations, attempting to de-escalate the situation.
As the standoff continued, SMPD’s Detective Bureau and SWAT were deployed.
detectives obtained a search and arrest warrant, employed less-lethal measures,
including chemical agents, to bring the situation under control.
Some six hours later, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Achterberg surrendered “without further
incident,” officials said. He was taken into custody and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where he was
booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and an unrelated misdemeanor bench
warrant. He remains in custody on a no-bail hold.
