A man is in custody after threatening staff with a knife at a shelter in the Madison South Neighborhood.
On Friday, May 7, 2021 at 7:43a.m., East Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a disturbance involving a weapon. A man with a knife was in the lobby of a shelter converted from a motel in the 1500 block of Northeast 82nd Avenue. The staff evacuated and were unharmed. Officers began negotiating with the man from Northeast Jonesmore Street. For over an hour the man refused to communicate with officers. He was wearing headphones, and although he could see the officers through the glass doors, he was unwilling to take the headphones off. Officers could see that he had a knife. He was heard yelling that he wanted to blow the building up, but officers did not see any sign of explosives. In order to facilitate communication with him, an officer wrote messages on a dry erase board and held them up. That was effective at opening the lines of communication. An ambulance was brought up to show him that the intent was to get him medical help. After almost 2 hours, he put down the knife and agreed to come out and climb on the gurney. He was transported to a hospital on a mental health hold. He has not been charged with a crime.
Some on duty officers with the Special Emergency Reaction Team, the Crisis Negotiation Team, and the Explosives Disposal Unit responded to assist patrol officers.
During the negotiation, the Northeast Jonesmore Street was closed.
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