VENTURA : Knife-Wielding Man Taken Into Custody

A knife-wielding man briefly held Ventura police officers at bay with a 10-inch blade in his motel room Wednesday before surrendering, authorities said.

Theodore Anshutz, 33, was arrested shortly before 1:30 p.m. after he barricaded himself for about 20 minutes in the bathroom of his room at the Crystal Lodge Motor Hotel, police said.

Police said Anshutz is a resident of the hotel on East Thompson Boulevard.

Two police officers had been investigating reports that Anshutz had slashed the tires of two cars parked in front of a nearby grocery store earlier in the day, Officer Teri Vujea said. Vujea said Anshutz had threatened her with the knife when he answered her knock at his motel door.

Another officer used a modified shotgun loaded with a small beanbag to shoot Anshutz in the chest, but Anshutz managed to hang onto to his knife and fled into the bathroom. About 20 minutes later, he opened the door and threw his knife down, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.

After being treated for a bruised chest at Ventura County Medical Center and released, Anshutz was booked at the Ventura County Jail in lieu of $20,000.