SAN MATEO – A 21-year-old San Mateo man was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of threatening to kill a security guard at the San Mateo Medical Center, which was placed on lockdown while officers searched for the suspect, police said.
Shortly before midnight, the San Mateo Police Department received back-to-back 911 calls about a loud bang near the hospital and a man who was armed with a knife and threatening to kill a security guard, police said in a news release.
As officers raced to the medical center at 222 West 39th Ave, employees activated their lockdown protocol.
Police said an investigation revealed that the suspect – later identified as Miguel Boch-Chamale – had tried to get into the hospital and was asked to leave. While in the parking lot, the suspect reportedly brandished a knife, threatened to kill a security guard and ran toward him. Fearing for his life, the guard fired his weapon once into the air.
The suspect threw a firework at the guard before running away from the hospital, police said.
After obtaining a description of the suspect, officers found and arrested him near the intersection of 36th Avenue and Colegrove Street. He was booked into San Mateo County jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, brandishing a deadly weapon and discharging dangerous fireworks, police said.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-522-7700.
