Staples Center Standoff Ends In Arrest

LOS ANGELES — A steak knife-wielding man held police and security guards at bay for nearly an hour at the Staples Center in a bizarre scene that played out just before the Los Angeles Clippers hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, authorities said.

The center's general manager, Lee Zeidman, said the man, who was not identified, entered the venue through an employee entrance. He said security officers tried to block him, but the man was brandishing the blade.

The man ran to the arena floor, where he was met by 25 security staffers who surrounded him until police arrived. Zeidman said the man made no demands or offer a motive for his actions.

"He was talking a lot of gibberish, making a lot of veiled threats, and nobody could really understand him," Zeidman said. "There were no specific demands. He told us: 'Just back away or else you're going to get hurt. Leave me alone. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to get whatever I want.'"

Police detained him after he made a move toward a tunnel leading off the court.

Spectators with VIP access to the 12:30 p.m. game were evacuated. Players from both teams watched the drama unfold on a TV outside the Cavaliers' dressing room before they were instructed to return to their locker rooms.

"That was crazy, man. There aren't too many knife standoffs in Oklahoma – not that I can remember. So it's a first for me," said Clippers All-Star rookie Blake Griffin. "I was sitting in here next to (DeAndre Jordan), and Randy Foye came in and said: `Yo, somebody just pulled a knife.' I was like, `What?' And then they explained the whole thing. We were trapped in here for a while. But both teams had to go through it, so it didn't really put us at a disadvantage."

The incident did not delay the start of the game, which was followed by an NHL tilt between the Kings and Anaheim Ducks.

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro and his Cavaliers counterpart, Byron Scott, requested extra time for their teams to warm up, but were turned down. The Clippers went on to a 100-92 victory.

"It was a weird day, period," Scott said. "You had things happen throughout the day, but you've just got kind of put it in the back of your mind and play basketball. And I think both teams did that."

Comments

[earto44]

09:22 AM on 03/22/2011

Not that anybody cares but there are about 25,000 crazy mentally ill people living in the streets about 4 blocks away from the Staples Center. They don't understand why they are living in the streets. Their ranks are growing. There are a lot of them who are vets that we don't have the funds to deal with properly. There are a lot of homeless women. This guy probably traveled away from homeless land, and freaked out. It's "Omega Man" out there at 10 PM. He was speaking loud and clear. "I am homeless, mentally ill American, and no one cares"

[SaneThoughts]

01:15 AM on 03/21/2011

Take away a knife but its OK to take a GUN to church, seriously! Of course, maybe be we have it all wrong. The NRA isn't pro-gun they are just really anti-varmint. Spin cycle set to max.

[jusathot]

07:02 PM on 03/20/2011

I take it the knife weilder is a white man?

[DL3]

02:11 PM on 03/20/2011

Would have been way cooler if Blake Griffin dunked over the guy with the knife.

[Kevin from Cali]

05:14 AM on 03/20/2011

Is the store Staples really thinking they are paying for publicity for naming the stadium and pay big bucks. I've past a few Staples and I still go to Wal-Mart or Best Buy for cheaper office supplies. Bad move ego Staples!

[Randy Hauser]

04:56 AM on 03/20/2011

Since it was a Clippers game they didnt have to worry about any fans being injured.

[lcovert]

04:43 PM on 03/21/2011

That's cold... but funny. ;-)

[CaroleK1970]

03:34 AM on 03/20/2011

what is that tea bagger doing in LA at the staples center?

[4midable]

12:25 PM on 03/20/2011

If it was a bagger he would have had a gun.

[IsotelusMaximus]

01:21 PM on 03/20/2011

Bad joke. You're not known for your comedy, huh? Go back under your bridge.

[studioh!]

01:01 AM on 03/20/2011

charlie left the babes at home?

[zombywulf]

11:59 PM on 03/19/2011

Staples security guards couldn't understand him as he was speaking English and only wanted the steak he had paid for.

[cvbnm67]

11:00 PM on 03/19/2011

"A steak knife-wielding man held police and security guards at bay for nearly an hour?" And the LAPD did not fill him full of bullets? Shocking.

If this would have happened anywhere else but at the Staples Center before a game, it would have been a different story. Los Angeles can be a dangerous city for the mentally unstable.

[Amalek]

10:29 PM on 03/19/2011

Give the man his steak.

[Phemale]

04:18 AM on 03/20/2011

Well he's got two hots and a cot, now...

[MerrieWay]

09:34 PM on 03/19/2011

"Jibberish" clearly the man was mentally disturbed. Luckily for him he wasn't shot...and security handled the situation before it escalated.

[dbrett480]

09:11 PM on 03/19/2011

This was handled well by the LAPD and security. Great job.

[Committee of One]

07:37 PM on 03/19/2011

It's obvious that anyone wishing to buy steak knives needs to undergo extensive psychiatric evaluation and and a comprehensive background check.

[mpmc23]

07:50 PM on 03/19/2011

I, for one, am glad this disturbed man didn't have a gun readily available when he looked to grab a weapon this afternoon. This fact saved at least his life (police don't shoot you with a "beanbag if you're threatening with a gun), and probably others too.

[hell in a bucket]

09:25 PM on 03/19/2011

" (police don't shoot you with a "beanbag if you're threatenin­g with a gun)"

That's what the Border Patrol officer in Arizona did. He shot a beanbag at an illegal alien smuggler who was holding an AK47. The smugglers shot back and now the officer is dead

[lbcyclist]

08:56 PM on 03/19/2011

Can you imagine what would have happened if he had a gun?

[Committee of One]

10:02 PM on 03/19/2011

Shot or stabbed, you'd be just as dead.