February 11, 2019
FCSO SWAT AND CRISIS NEGOTIATORS DIFFUSE SUICIDE THREAT
On Friday, February 8, 2019 at approximately 2:45 PM deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a subject who was threatening to commit suicide in his residence on Springbranch Road, Florence, SC. According to deputies, the subject admitted that he had a firearm in his immediate possession and that if law enforcement approached, he would point the weapon at them, forcing law enforcement to kill him. The first deputies to arrive at the scene located the subject in a vehicle outside the residence, but the subject later left the vehicle and entered the residence. At some point, a female entered the residence briefly, but left shortly thereafter. It was then confirmed that the subject was alone in the residence and barricaded in a particular room.
In response, FCSO SWAT team and specially trained crisis negotiators were dispatched to the scene where a perimeter was established. Negotiators in direct communication with the subject via telephone were able to de-escalate the situation and convinced the subject to surrender. The incident lasted for approximately one hour and 45 minutes. The subject was secured and taken by EMS to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment. No one was injured during the standoff, and no criminal charges are anticipated at this time.
“This is a great example of how our deputies are specially trained to de-escalate crisis situations with people in distress,” Sheriff Kenney Boone stated. “Congratulations team, on a job well done.”
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Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.
