Traffic diversions and school lockdowns were part of the response to a suicidal man threatening to harm himself in a home near Cambridge City’s downtown area on the afternoon of Thursday, April 18.
Here’s a collection of photos by Hometown Media Group employee Joe Klemann from the scene.
The approximately 90-minute situation ended peacefully, according to Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter.
Retter said the man contacted a local medical office, and after talking with him, staff sensed he was potentially going to harm himself.
The employees contacted law enforcement, who responded. The sheriff’s department made contact with the man, who made comments about suicide and barricading himself in his home near the 100 block of East Main Street, close to First Baptist Church and the former Central School.
Negotiations continued, and first responders were able to talk him out of the residence and take him into custody peacefully.
Retter said Western Wayne Elementary and Lincoln Middle/High School were locked down because of their proximity to the situation.
“To our knowledge, there was no direct threat to the schools,” Retter said. “We’re happy things turned out peacefully.”
Cambridge City Police Department served as the lead responders with assistance from Richmond Police Department’s SWAT unit, Indiana State Police, Reid Health’s ambulance service and the sheriff’s department.