Police: New Paltz student arrested for taking hostages with sword

A SUNY New Paltz student suspected of being "under the influence of an unknown hallucinogen" was arrested today after allegedly taking several fellow students hostage with a Japanese katana sword, according to the Times Herald-Record:

Isaac Doughty, 18, threatened to harm himself and other students with a Japanese katana sword, according to SUNY New Paltz Police Chief David Dugatkin.

After Doughty herded several students from the common room of a dormitory suite into the bedroom of that suite, Dugatkin said he was persuaded by campus police to come out alone. But when he did not respond to officers’ orders, the officers used a taser and pepper spray to subdue him, an effort that was “minimally effective,” Dugatkin said.

Police were able to finally subdue Doughty. Police believe Doughty was under the influence of an unknown hallucinogen.

No one was seriously wounded, the newspaper reports. 

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