LAPD: Officers Shoot Mentally Ill Man In University Park

UNIVERSITY PARK (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles police officers shot a man they say was wielding a knife Saturday morning and he suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The call came in to police around 11:45 p.m. Friday from University Park, according to the LAPD. The caller reportedly told police that a man they were taking care of, who suffers from mental illness, was acting erratically.

Officers say they arrived to the 1500 block of West 29th Street to find the man with a knife in his hand.

"We do extensive training in regards to mental illness. We have clinicians available so that, when time permits, we can have someone here. Typically, when officers arrive, they try to make contact with MEU - a Mental Evaluation Unit -  to determine ... if there's any documented history on this suspect," LAPD Sgt. Frank Preciado told CBS2/KCAL9's Joy Benedict.

Police say that there wasn't enough time to contact their MEU because the suspect quickly displayed a weapon and was using it in a threatening manner.

An officer used a Taser on the suspect but it wasn't enough to subdue him, the LAPD reports.

Police fired on the suspect and paramedics took him to a hospital in stable condition.

They have not released the man's identity.