Police in teenager standoff
(CNS): Police said today that an 18-year-old man with mental health problems who barricaded himself in his house armed with two machetes after making threats to harm his family last night has now been taken into custody safely following a major negotiation operation by the RCIPS. Police were alerted to the incident in West Bay at around 8:50 pm last night, Tuesday 21 April, when a woman reported that her son had been causing problems at her house and requested police assistance.
Police said that officers responded to the scene and the young man then barricaded himself in his room, refusing to come out. The two other occupants of the house were removed safely from the scene. Officers entered into negotiations with the man, whose mood police described as fluctuating frequently between calm and erratic.
The RCIPS stated that he made serious threats against his family and the police. During the standoff the house was cordoned off and two officers trained in negotiation tactics, including one who is currently on annual leave, attended the location.
Conversations with the man continued into the night and he was persuaded to give up one of the two machetes he had in his possession. Following a number of hours of negotiations and based on the increasing risks the Senior Incident Command made the decision to deploy a tactical entry into the house using trained specialist officers and the man was taken into custody without incident under the Mental Health Act.
He was also arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct, threatening violence and failing to attend court.
“This was a situation which had the potential to end tragically or in serious injuries to the occupants, the subject or the officers,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ennis. “I am extremely proud of the professionalism and skills displayed by the officers who brought about a successful end to this volatile incident.”
Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.
Category: Headline News
Remember this incident when gun nuts tell you you Cayman needs to make guns legal and easily available.
If that were the case, he would have had two guns instead of two machetes and people would have died.
Well done RCIP..Must feel good to get some positive feed back in the news.
I hope the young man get the help he needs as there are many options available at the CAYMAN ISLANDS HOSPITAL and the staff are great there.
Well done to the family for being concerned about their own safety as well as the safety and need for treatment for the young man.
Mental Health issues are many times overlooked or underestimated in our community am glad professionals were broughtin from ALL aspects to deal with this. My question is though, if the young man has a mental illness why has he been arrested? Maybe he was unaware of his actions and genuinely meant no harm.
well done RCIP & I too hope the young man in question & also the family receive the help & assistance that they so obviously need. We need to be more pro-active in our understanding of mental health issues, it is an illness & should not & cannot be ignored.
A young man with emotional difficulties can terrorize a family, I hope this young man receives help as this is a very serious situation.