LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) - La Crosse Police Officers were dispatched Tuesday night to a local community shelter for a subject who was yelling and threatening people with a knife.

The man left the scene in a car just prior to officers arriving. Officers located the vehicle and stopped it. 

As officers were talking with him, the man suddenly exited his vehicle and lunged at one officer and held a knife to his own throat.

The second officer who was in very close proximity immediately grabbed the man’s arms and took him to the ground. 

The officers were not injured, and the man only received some cuts to his hands.

The man was transported to a medical facility for evaluation.

The man admitted he got the knife out because he wanted the police to shoot him.

Assistant Chief Abraham stated, “These officers are commended for their quick actions and concern for human life. This was a situation that could have ended dramatically different, had the officers not put themselves in the line of danger.”