Eugene man arrested after bizarre standoff involving throwing star, and multiple weapons

EUGENE, Ore. — Eugene Police Department (EPD) dispatched officers to the 600 block of Van Buren St. on Saturday September 16, 2023, for reports of a stabbing incident. A couple returning home were chased by a man with a knife, sending the female fleeing indoors, and her partner, injured when the suspect threw a handmade throwing star into him.

EPD officers arrived to find the suspect, David Ivan Piccioni, 54, on the porch of his house, with knives in both hands. Officers gave Piccioni commands to drop the knives and that he was under arrest. Piccioni ignored all commands and was yelling and singing. Piccioni went in and out of his house multiple times, picking up and dropping several weapons.

EPD officers gave Piccioni gave multiple commands to drop the weapons, after Piccioni refused, a taser was deployed, but it was ineffective. Piccioni continued to walk around disobeying commands and picking up weapons. Officers tried pepperballs and 40 mm less lethal impact weapons.

At one point during the incident, Piccioni threw a brick at a police vehicle, according to EPD.

A taser deployment was ultimately successful in getting Piccioni to the ground, as he strode out of the front door of the house, toward police, raising a broom handle, like a spear.

Officers attempted to take Piccioni into custody, still holding the broom handle, and he hit two officers in the face, injuring one near his eye. Once Piccioni was in custody, officers found additional weapons and knives on his person.

Piccioni was transported by Eugene Springfield Fire to a local hospital for treatment. Once he is medically cleared, he will be transported to Lane County Jail on charges of:

• Assault in the Second Degree
• Unlawful Use Weapon
• Menacing, Resisting Arrest
• Assault on a Public Safety Officer
  

The victim was transported to a local hospital for removal of the throwing star.