TELLICO VILLAGE, Tenn. — Around 2:50 p.m. on the afternoon of March 8, Loudon County Dispatch responded to a call coming from a Tellico Village resident, who stated that her husband was armed with a pistol and making statements that suggested he was suicidal.
Before the Loudon County Sheriff’’s Office patrol deputies arrived at the home where the call originated, the man had fled in a vehicle.
The LCSO deputies began a search for him that brought them to Highway 444. When attempting to make a traffic stop, the man wouldn’t slow down … resulting in a pursuit.
During the pursuit, Loudon County Dispatchers were able to reach the man by phone, and were eventually able to convince him to pull over. The man then proceeded to drive into the parking area beside the Poplar Springs Boat Ramp, where he refused to exit the vehicle or leave his firearm inside his vehicle when asked to do both by deputies on the scene.
Eventually, LCSO negotiators and SWAT team members were called in.
After almost two hours, all parties involved eventually were able to get the man into custody, utilizing non-lethal bean bag rounds and a taser during the process.
He was transported to a nearby hospital for an evaluation shortly after the incident.
“The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Loudon County Dispatch, Priority Ambulance Service, the Lenoir City Police Department and the Loudon Police Department for their assistance,” LCSO’s Cpl. Cody Bengel said.
SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL URGES & PROTOCOL
In instances where an individual is actively displaying suicidal or homicidal urges — or tells someone directly of suicidal or homicidal intent — the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office is required to ensure that the individual goes to seek immediate medical attention or further evaluations at a hospital.
If the individual doesn’t go voluntarily, Cpl. Cody Bengel said that the LCSO is obligated to take them into protective custody and transport them to a nearby hospital.
From there, medical staff and Mobile Crisis Services will conduct a thorough analysis to see if the induivdiual needs to be committed to a mental health facility.
Bengel also stated that not every individual who is brought into the hospital for instances like this are committed to a mental health program. What will happen with this case specifically is still unknown, he told The Tellico Village Connection last week.
In an interview with The Connection on the afternoon of March 9, Bengel stated that the case had been handed over to the agency’s criminal investigation division — though any action from LCSO regarding the case had yet to be determined.
The corporal didn’t confirm nor deny that the individual would be facing criminal charges in the future.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The initial release also stressed that if you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please know that help is available.
You can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, to speak with trained counselors 24 hours a day.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
