BROWNWOOD, Texas — Brownwood Police Department officers had to deploy stabilized bean bag rounds to stop a 62-year-old man from continuing to harm himself by cutting his own body with a box cutter.
On Monday afternoon, BPD officers were dispatched to the State of Texas Parole Office in the 900 block of Main Street on a report of a wanted subject.
When they got to the office, they found Geronimo Franklin Mendieta, 62, of Brownwood in the parking lot, trying to run away. Officers tried to speak with Mendieta, but he refused to listen to instructions and took out a "box cutter razor knife" and started slicing his legs, arms and neck, causing himself serious injuries.
Mendieta was contained and secured by officers with the use of stabilized bean bag rounds, then cared for until the Brownwood Fire Department and AMR ambulance service arrived to help. He was taken to the Hendricks-Brownwood Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery.
Assistant Police Chief James Fuller said the extent of Mendieta's self-inflicted injuries are unknown at this time.
The case remains an ongoing investigation with the BPD being assisted by the local office of the Texas Department of Public Safety's Texas Rangers.
