Crazed Man Carrying a Machete Causes Chaos in Ventura County

A 50-year-old man is facing charges of arson, carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon after an incident that ended with deputies firing shots at a Thousand Oaks shopping center.

The incident happened on Oct. 24 after deputies responded to a report of a man with a machete threatening people at the Palm Garden Hotel on the 400 block of North Ventu Park Road.

Responding deputies found Joseph Emans, 50, of Thousand Oaks nearby at the Ventu Park Shopping Center around 6:25 a.m.

Deputies said Emans was still armed with a machete and was refusing to listen to their demands. A stun gun was used on him to no effect, authorities said, and deputies eventually shot and hit Emans, who was wounded and taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Emans survived his injuries and was arrested Wednesday after being discharged from the hospital. He was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura and is being held on $500,000.

A press release issued by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office weeks later listed his charges, which include exhibiting a deadly weapon and deadly resist of a peace officer, among others.

The case was submitted to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office for review​ and he was expected to be arraigned Friday.

“This case is being handled with full transparency, and we urge anyone with information to come forward,” the officials for the Sheriff’s Office stated.