WARREN (WWJ) - A 33-year-old man with a known history of mental health issues is in custody after Warren police said he wandered into their department with a sword on Thursday morning and made threatening comments.
WWJ's Charlie Langton spoke with Warren police who said the suspect, only identified as a 29-year-old Warren man, is known to the department with previous contacts for mental health-related calls for service.
Langton reported that the man came into the department's lobby located at 29900 S. Civic Center Blvd. around 7 a.m. on Oct. 12 and brandished a three-foot long sword, shouting "CIA! CIA!"
Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer said in a press release that the man leaned the sword up against a pillar wall in the lobby and approached the front desk.
"In speaking with the front desk officer, the male made several statements which included threats to possibly cause harm to officers and the subject himself," Dwyer said. "The front desk officer immediately recognized that this male was likely experiencing a mental health crisis."
The front desk officer called for additional assistance, but the man grabbed his sword, ran out of the building and took off in his vehicle.
The commissioner said officers were able to track the man down at a nearby park in Sterling Heights and took him into custody without force or further incident around 9:30 a.m.
"Luckily, no injuries, but kind of a wild scene earlier this morning here in Warren," Langton said.
The 29-year-old was taken to a local hospital where he was petitioned for a mental health evaluation.
Commissioner Dwyer praised the officers involved in the incident for recognizing the man needed help and making the right call despite the potential danger.
"Today shows how there is no routine day for a police officer, whether responding to a call for service, making a traffic stop, or working the front desk," Dwyer said. "....we train for situations such as these and this is yet another example of officers applying their training to a real-world situation. Thankfully, this male did not cause any harm to himself or the officers. Hopefully this male gets the help he needs."
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest details as they become available. >>> LISTEN LIVE!
