A potentially deadly standoff ended peacefully Thursday, April 17, after a man allegedly threatened to take his own life in Stephens County.
According to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, at around 3:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a residence on Oak Valley Road near Holly Springs Road following a 911 call reporting suicide threats. According to dispatchers, a male subject allegedly armed with a pistol had threatened to take his own life and warned he would provoke a “suicide by cop” if law enforcement responded, according to police.
Upon arrival, deputies and investigators approached the area and gathered critical information from family members. They learned the individual had already left the residence with the firearm before law enforcement arrived.
Around 5:10 p.m., authorities say the man was located – barricaded inside a shed near the home – and additional units were strategically staged nearby as a precaution. Over the course of nearly three hours, deputies worked to de-escalate the situation and relied on communication with the individual’s friends and family.
Ultimately, the man was taken into custody without incident and transported to Stephens County Hospital for evaluation.
“This incident could have had a very different outcome. I want to commend our deputies for recognizing that this individual was experiencing a mental health crisis, and for responding with compassion and professionalism,” Sheriff Rusty Fulbright said. “By opening lines of communication and working to de-escalate the situation, they ensured a peaceful resolution where no one was harmed.”
On the morning of April 18, deputies transported the individual to a nearby mental health facility to receive further care.
“This incident is a great example of why it is important for our deputies to continue to receive training—both in empathetic crisis intervention and in being prepared for the most dangerous and challenging situations they’ll face,” Fulbright said.
