Man provokes Salinas Police officers

A 31-year-old man has twice tried to provoke Salinas Police officers into shooting him, according to the Salinas Police Dept.

The first incident happened on October 8, when Roberto Torres Acosta pointed a cell phone at an officer, simulating a firearm.

Acosta was placed on a health hold for the treatment but was quickly released, according to the press release issued by the Salinas Police Department.

The next day, on October 9th, SPD reports Acosta approached an officer sitting inside in his patrol car outside a substation in East Salinas and once again tried to provoke an officer, telling the officer to shoot him and moved his hands as if pointing a firearm.

“Fortunately, this occurred in a well-lit area because at the last second, the officer saw Acosta was unarmed,” according to the release issued by Salinas Police Commander Sheldon Bryan.

Acosta was booked into Monterey County jail for resisting arrest.

County behavioral experts are working on a long-term solution for Acosta, police say.