Warren, MI – A 29-year-old man from Warren, who entered the city’s police station wielding a sword and making threats, was apprehended in the early hours of Thursday, according to Warren’s police commissioner, William Dwyer.
Around 7 a.m. on Thursday, the man, whose identity remains undisclosed, walked into the lobby of the police station located at 29900 South Civic Center Boulevard. He was carrying a large sword, which immediately drew the attention of station officials, as described in a news release.
After placing the sword against a nearby wall, he proceeded to approach the officer at the front desk, where he allegedly made a series of statements that included threats towards officers and himself, according to authorities.
The attending officer swiftly recognized that the man was likely undergoing a mental health crisis. In response, they called for backup. This prompted the man to grab his sword and make a hasty exit on foot, as revealed during the subsequent investigation.
Initial attempts to locate the man proved unsuccessful. However, following an extensive investigation, Warren police located him at a nearby park in Sterling Heights. He was taken into custody without the use of force or any injuries and was subsequently transported to a local hospital. There, he was petitioned for a mental evaluation, as per official reports.
It has been disclosed by the police that the man had prior contacts related to mental health issues.
An ongoing investigation is being conducted into this incident.
Police Commissioner Dwyer commented on the situation, saying, “Here again, we find ourselves discussing law enforcement’s encounters with individuals grappling with mental illness. Today’s incident underscores that there are no routine days for a police officer, whether they are responding to service calls, conducting traffic stops, or stationed at the front desk.”
Dwyer further noted, “Our officers made the right decision by transporting this individual to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. We train for situations such as these, and this incident is yet another example of officers applying their training to a real-world scenario. Thankfully, this individual did not cause harm to himself or the officers involved. We hope that he receives the help he needs.”
