Santa Ana man arrested on suspicion of wielding samurai swords
A Santa Ana man remained in jail Sunday after he allegedly wielded two samurai swords in a busy shopping center while threatening bystanders, police said.
Hung Anh Nguyen, 29, was in the parking lot of Arsenio’s Mexico Food at 751 S. Harbor Blvd. in Santa Ana about 11:15 p.m. Friday when he pulled out two swords and started screaming profanities, Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. Police arrived and tried to calm him.
Bertagna said Nguyen threatened officers and refused to follow the officers repeat commands to put the swords down.
“Nguyen told officers several times that ‘You will have to kill me first,’” Bertagna said.
Several officers surrounded him, and shocked him with a stun gun. KTLA reported that the swords were 27 and 19 inches long.
He was taken to a hospital for a psychological evaluation. He was later released and booked on suspicion of possession of illegal swords and assault with a deadly weapon. He also had an outstanding warrant for a narcotic warrant, police said.
Police believe that Nguyen might have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
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