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Officers responded to the Springfield Mall where the man was threatening to jump from the roof of the parking garage around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6.
"Quick-thinking officers engaged the man in conversation to calm him down and bought time for additional resources, including our Crisis Negotiators and Co-Responder units, to respond," the county's police department said.
Negotiators spoke with the man for more than five hours and were able to convince him to step off of the ledge. He was taken into custody and was receiving help.
"Our Crisis Negotiators are professionals specifically trained in speaking with individuals to de-escalate often volatile life and death situations such as suicide attempts, standoffs, hostage situations, and other critical incidents," police said.
The police department's Co-Responder Program partners a police officer assigned to the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) with a Community Services Board (CSB) Crisis Intervention Specialist.
The pair ride in a patrol cruiser together and respond to behavioral health calls for service throughout the county. They serve adults and youth undergoing emotional distress who would benefit from crisis intervention services. "This distress could be potentially linked to mental health issues, substance usage, developmental disabilities, or other associated concerns," police said.
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