Multiple Lake County sheriff’s deputies helped reach a peaceful resolution with an armed man who was threatening suicide by cop which resulted in an hour standoff near Lake Villa.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday to a home on West Verona Avenue in unincorporated Lake Villa for what was initially an assist ambulance call for a person not breathing.
Lake County sheriff’s dispatchers continued asking the 911 caller important questions and learned that the call involved an adult man who was suffering from an intentional drug and alcohol overdose, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Sheriff’s 911 dispatchers stayed on the phone with the 911 caller and began hearing screaming in the background of the phone call.
Dispatchers learned the person who intentionally overdosed threatened to kill responding deputies and that he was going to try to force deputies to shoot and kill him, Covelli said.
Dispatchers relayed the significant information to responding deputies so they were prepared when they arrived.
Deputies arrived at the home and located the man inside and were able to evacuate other people who were in the home to safety.
Covelli said deputies learned the man recently had a significant life-changing event occur and he was in crisis, under the influence and armed with a knife.
The man presented the knife and instructed the deputies to shoot him during the interaction.
Sheriff’s deputies utilized their de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to actively communicate with the man, Covelli said.
Following an hour-long standoff, sheriff’s deputies convinced the man to exit the residence peacefully and unarmed.
The man was transported to an area hospital for the mental health crisis. No injuries were reported during the “tense situation,” Covelli said.
“Our deputies demonstrated incredible patience, skill, and compassion in this life-or-death situation. Through outstanding de-escalation techniques, they were able to safely resolve a crisis involving a man in deep distress—without anyone getting hurt. This is the kind of professionalism and dedication they bring to our community every single day. I couldn’t be more proud of their actions!” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COaST) will be following up with the man and his family to provide additional services.