A Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputy is recovering after being stabbed early Friday morning.
It happened at around 12:15 a.m. as deputies were responding to a welfare check in the 4500 block of Hollister Avenue in Santa Barbara.
According to the sheriff’s office, a man called 911 “in an agitated state” and made threatening statements about harming someone.
Sheriff’s officials say that when deputies arrived at the scene, they encountered 44-year-old Abu Bakr Sugich, describing him as appearing extremely agitated. The deputies reportedly tried to de-escalate the situation; however, after briefly walking away, officials say Sugich returned to the scene with a hunting-style knife and suddenly stabbed Deputy Fabian Flores in the upper chest.
Other deputies took control of Sugich and placed him in handcuffs.
Deputy Flores was taken to a local hospital for treatment. His wound is described as non-life-threatening and he is reportedly back at home.
Sugich was booked into the county jail on charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, with bail set at $1 million.
