A volatile situation involving a knife-wielding man at Auburn’s Brannan Park was safely resolved Monday evening, Dec. 2, 2024 after hours of negotiation and the deployment of less-lethal measures.

The Auburn Police Department, with assistance from Valley SWAT, arrested the suspect without further incident.

The incident began around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, when a male suspect reportedly threatened three city employees working on a trail at Brannan Park.

Upon officers’ arrival, the suspect fled down a river embankment and refused to emerge, prompting the dispatch of crisis negotiators to the scene.

Negotiators spent several hours attempting to de-escalate the situation. However, the suspect’s demeanor remained volatile, and he refused to relinquish the knife. As night fell, safety concerns for officers and citizens heightened, leading to the activation of SWAT personnel.

Valley SWAT employed less-lethal tactics, including foam rounds and pepper balls, to compel the suspect to surrender. After several hours, officers successfully detained the individual without injuries to any party involved.

“A job well done by everyone involved,” police said in a statement.

The suspect’s identity and potential charges have not been disclosed as the investigation continues.