Police book man in Ceres machete incident

CERES -- A man shot by Ceres police Monday was released from the hospital and booked at the Stanislaus County Jail. Samuel Tome Matos, 33, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon after he reportedly charged at and swung a machete at two police officers.

Matos' parents called police about 7:45 p.m. to report he had made threatening comments to his mother and they thought he might have purchased a handgun, said Sgt. Jose Berber.

Officers Steve Carvalho and Lorenzo Beltran were let into the home in the 2400 block of Pine Ridge Drive by Matos' parents, who then left the house.

Almost immediately, Berber said, Matos armed himself with a machete and swung at officers. Carvalho shot Matos with five rounds from a beanbag shotgun. The rounds seemed to have little effect on Matos, who continued toward the officers. Carvalho and Beltran drew their firearms and each shot once.

One round hit Matos in the arm and he retreated into his bedroom with the machete. Thinking he may have had a handgun inside the room, officers began negotiating with him to surrender. They elected to enter the room, where they apprehended Matos.