Burbank police use ‘sponge bullets’ to subdue man who allegedly fired gun

A 62-year-old man who allegedly taunted Burbank police to shoot and kill him after firing off a round inside an apartment Wednesday night was arrested after officers used “less lethal” sponge bullets and a Taser to subdue him.

The man, Jahanbakhsh Azhdarinezhad, was arrested on suspicion of making terrorist threats and negligent discharge of a firearm after officers responded to the apartment in the 600 block of Harvard Road, Burbank police reported.

Officers were responding to reports of shots fired at about 9:10 p.m., and upon arriving, ordered Azhdarinezhad out of the apartment. After refusing to comply, he allegedly started walking toward the officers and yelling at them to shoot and kill him, according to police.

He than began to reach into his waistband, at which time officers fired sponge bullets and a Taser to subdue and arrest him, according to the police department. He was treated for minor injuries sustained during the incident.

Azhdarinezhad also allegedly threatened a neighbor.

He remains in custody in lieu of $50,000 bail and is due in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday.

-- Jason Wells, Times Community News

Twitter: @JasonBretWells