Caught on video: Las Cruces police officer disarms suicidal man with gun at clinic

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- Newly-released body camera footage shows a tense moment last year when a Las Cruces police officer disarmed a man accused of assaulting two health care workers. (Watch it in the video player at the top of this article.)

Police responded to a behavioral issue at a medical clinic and within eight seconds of their arrival, a man they identified as Mathew Roger Smith reaches across his body into a breast pocket, where he pulled out a black revolver.

An officer quickly disarmed Smith and wrestled him to the ground, while the man continued to reach for the gun. He later told police he was planning to use the gun on himself.

Las Cruces police officials said this incident shows how quickly a call can escalate.