Man With History of Mental Problems Arrested for Gun Possession

A Santa Cruz man with a history of mental illness was arrested Thursday after police officers wrestled him to the ground while trying to take away a handgun from his waistband, police said.

Donald Jackson, 62, was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on suspicion of being a person prohibited from possessing a firearm, police said.

Police were called to Jackson's residence at 1344 Pacific Ave. following a hang up of a 911 call at about 3:40 a.m. When officers arrived at his front door, Jackson appeared and pulled up his shirt to reveal a revolver inside the waistband of his pants, police said. The officers were able to take the gun away from Jackson after tackling him onto the ground.

Jackson told police he bought the .45 caliber Colt revolver at a gun show at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose. Police had detained him at the Behavior Health Unit of Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz on previous occasions for mental health reasons, police said.

Officers brought him to the hospital after answering calls from neighbors who reported hearing Jackson yelling and pounding on walls, police said. Under state law, since he had been detained for reasons of mental disorder or illness, Jackson could not legally possess a handgun, police said.

The revolver was an older model and police are attempting to research its history and how Jackson may have obtained it, police said.

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