Police take suicidal man into custody

A 25-year-old Coeur d’Alene man was booked into the Kootenai County Jail after being shot Wednesday by police using rubber-tipped bullets.

The man, whose name was not released, was wanted on a warrant and was reported to police to be suicidal.

The man was reported to be at The Altar church on the 900 block of east Best Avenue at 5:30 p.m., where someone reported the man had a weapon.

Police surrounded the church and when the man left the building he ran into the street on the south side of the church.

“He had squared up with a knife and threatened to do self harm,” said Coeur d’Alene Police Detective Mario Rios.

Rios said the man was shot with a 40mm blue nose round. The non-lethal projectiles are used to subdue a suspect.

“The Taser was also deployed,” Rios said. “It was effective in this case.”

Rios said the man was shot on Best Avenue, which was blocked for approximately a half hour. The scene was cleared around 6 p.m., according to police.

The man was booked into the Kootenai County Jail where he was placed on suicide watch, police said.