MAN BARRICADES HIMSELF IN HOME WITH KNIFE, PROMPTING POLICE RESPONSE

UTICA, NY - On Thursday evening, an incident involving a barricaded man with a knife prompted a significant response from the Utica Police Department at a home on Watson Place. The police were called to the scene at approximately 7:55 p.m. following reports of an "out-of-control" man with a knife and behaving irrationally. The caller expressed concern that the individual might harm himself.

A crisis negotiation officer took up position outside the home and engaged in a nearly four-hour dialogue with the man, who was located in a third-floor attic. Several officers were strategically stationed around the residence as the negotiation unfolded. To aid in communication and ensure visibility, a patrol vehicle was positioned directly in front of the home, casting light on the attic where the man was located. A family member on the scene used a police intercom in an effort to persuade the individual to exit the home peacefully.

At approximately 8:18 p.m., an ambulance from the Utica Fire Department was dispatched to stage in the area as a precautionary measure. After hours of negotiation, the situation was resolved peacefully around 11:45 p.m. when the man exited the home without further incident. He was transported to Wynn Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

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OPINION:

The Utica Police handled the situation very well. I stood there and watched them as they set up a perimeter around the house. The supervisor on duty made sure everyone was on the same page, which they all were. The scene was very quiet, and the crisis negotiator did a phenomenal job of keeping his focus on the individual in crisis. He maintained his composure and was able to convince the individual to come to the window and talk. Although the individual was a bit stubborn, the negotiator continued to maintain his composure and put his training and knowledge of how to deal with individuals in crisis to work. I appreciated how all the other officers on the scene stayed calm and quiet and did not cause a distraction to the negotiator or the individual. Good job to the Utica Police Department on handling this situation correctly. I believe mental health is a global pandemic, and we're beginning to see the crisis here on the home front more and more. I hope that each case is handled this way in the future when it comes to individuals in crisis. People want to be acknowledged and are like "precious cargo" and want to be treated with care. I'll end this opinion section by saying to love your neighbor, check in on people; you never know what someone is going through. You can be that one person who can save someone's life. Thank you for reading; please take care of yourself and others. Again, great job UPD.