- October 27, 2024
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by: Melissa Morreale
Flagler County Sheriff's Office
Flagler County deputies helped save two people who were apparently contemplating suicide recently.
“Often around the country these situations have had a much more tragic outcome," Sheriff Rick Staly said. "But, in Flagler County, our deputies spend significant amounts of time training on how to successfully deescalate dangerous situations. No bad day is worth taking your life. Suicide is a permanent solution to what is usually a temporary problem and impacts many people. I am thankful our deputies were able to disarm both of them and no one was injured. Hopefully, they can now get the help they need.”
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and the FCSO wants to remind residents that if they are dealing with a mental health crisis or have suicidal thoughts, they are not alone. There are numerous resources for help with mental health struggles in Flagler County. For more information visit http://www.flaglerlifeline.org/local-mental-health-services/ or call 800-273-8255. You can also visit: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
The two incidents occurred as follows:
On Friday, May 7, 2021, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a call about an armed male laying on the ground next to a motorcycle at Ocean Shore Blvd in Palm Coast. Upon arriving on scene, deputies located a male on the ground next to the dumpster; he was in possession of a firearm. Commands were given for the male to drop the firearm, at which time the male sat up and held the firearm to his head.
Deputies made multiple attempts to get the male to drop the firearm. He continued to aim a gun at his head while deputies tried to negotiate and ask the male to allow them to help him. During the encounter, it was discovered the male was reported missing from Jacksonville, with suicidal tendencies.
The FCSO Crisis Negotiation Team responded and arrived on scene to aid in the negotiation effort. The male told deputies he was having one last cigarette and was then going to end his life. When he put the handgun down to light the cigarette, deputies used a non-life-threatening weapon to disorient the individual, allowing deputies to secure the male and take him into custody under a Baker Act. The male was transported by FCSO deputies to Halifax Health.
The week before, on April 30, the FCSO received a similar call about an armed male who was threatening to end his life after an argument with his partner.
The reporting party explained that she and the male were having an argument in their home that continued to escalate due to the male being intoxicated. She also stated that at some point during the argument, the male put a pistol to his head. It was at this time that she fled the home with her child and contacted law enforcement.
After deputies arrived on scene, several attempts were made to contact the male with no response. Eventually, the male exited his home to make contact with law enforcement and was secured for his safety. He disclosed that he had a verbal altercation with his partner, but had a difficult time explaining the details of the argument. He advised that he was very intoxicated and upset about relationship issues. The male claimed he would not hurt her or anyone, nor did he want to harm himself.
Due to the totality of the circumstances and the nature of the incident, the male was placed under a Baker Act and transported by FCSO deputies to Halifax Health for a mental evaluation. Additionally, the Department of Children and Families was notified of the incident due to a juvenile being in the home at the time of the incident.
