The scene along Rhobina Street in Centralia as police work to coax man from house. / Courtesy photo by Brandon Williams
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 911 call yesterday about a suicidal subject in northeast Centralia led to a large police response and the evacuation of nearby homes, but the hours-long incident ended with nobody hurt and the 31-year-old man safe and put into the hands of family and mental health professionals.
Officers dispatched about 2:10 p.m. to the 1200 block of Rhobina Street were initially told the subject was holding a handgun to his head, according to police.
His father had left the residence and police learned there were numerous firearms inside, according to Centralia Police Department Chief Bob Berg.
Berg indicated information was varied as to the man’s danger to himself and propensity for violence. It was because attempts to contact him were unsuccessful and out of an abundance of caution that police decided to ask neighbors to leave, according to Berg.
Officers, joined by members of the Centralia and Lewis County SWAT teams, blocked off the area for security.
After consultations between police, family members and representatives from Cascade Mental Health, a decision was made just before 8 p.m. for police to simply enter the home, which they did, according to the chief.
The man was contacted and then left in the care of family and individuals with the mental health clinic, according to Berg.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I agree mycomments but we have to be careful not to go too far whereby people can be confined against their will to easily. It is a delicate balance between individual rights and the need to protect people, even from themselves.
I have to wonder if the family of the suicidal man saw that he was changing, decompensating, but could not get him help UNTIL he was a danger to self or others.
That part of the law SUCKS and needs to be amended to allow for health and happiness for the mentally ill person. Sometimes, medication doesn’t work or is effected by other medication or just gets skipped… with terrible results. Family members can often see the changes and are HELPLESS until the mentally ill person actually behaves badly. The premise is that the mentally ill person has a RIGHT to be mentally ill. Perhaps that is true… or perhaps the pendulum has just swung too far. Time to rattle the cages of our Congress members to change the laws!
People compain about police over-reacation when someone dies dopey, not when the po do their jobs.
Good job to al involved! I hope the man gets the help he needs and his family can heal from the terrifying experience.
I can’t wait to hear the comments on this case. Now it will be the police over reacted, used too much force, etc.
What happened here is what is supposed to happen. The police were called to a violent situation and made the area safe and the situation was resolved with anyone getting hurt or killed. Great job by all community resources!