On October 22, at approximately 9:41 am, officers responded to the Carlsbad Village Inn regarding a report of a subject brandishing a samurai-style sword at paramedics, who were responding to an unrelated medical aid call at the motel. 

Arriving officers approached the room and attempted to make contact with the subject, later identified as 33-year-old Eliot Rauk of Lomita, CA in his motel room.  Rauk yelled through the door, threatening to kill approaching officers and brandished a handgun, seen through the motel room window.  Areas of the motel were evacuated, a secure perimeter was established, and the Carlsbad SWAT team responded to the location. 

The Carlsbad Police Department’s Crisis Negotiation Team was able to make cell phone contact with Rauk.  Police personnel communicated with Rauk for several hours.  At 2:36 pm, Rauk exited his room and was safely taken into custody.  Following service of a search warrant, a semi-automatic handgun and samurai sword were recovered from the room.   Rauk was transported to Tri-City Hospital for a medical evaluation and will be booked into Vista Jail for charges of 422 PC – making terrorist threats, 417 PC – unlawfully brandishing a weapon and 69 PC – threats of violence against a police officer.  

Police Media Contact 
Lieutenant Jason Jackowski, 760-814-0372 or jason.jackowski@carlsbadca.gov