Columbus, IN —On Friday, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s deputies were contacted by a female resident who expressed extreme concern and fear over her husband’s mental state. The subject, who has a history of medical and mental health issues, was making statements about harming himself and having others harm him.
The subject owns and keeps numerous firearms inside the residence and he had placed the firearms around the house handing one to his wife urging her to shoot him. He told her he would draw a gun on others who carry so that they might shoot him.
Based on her fear and the statements he made, deputies responded to the residence and made contact with the subject through an open window. Deputies observed multiple firearms inside the residence as well as a handgun strapped to the subject’s hip. After approximately 30-minutes of negotiation, with no progress being made, deputies took advantage of an opportunity to grab the man through the open window and secured him. The man was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for evaluation.
When BCSO Detectives arrived on scene, they began “Red Flag Law” procedures confiscating 20 firearms and removing them from the residence.
“This was a very difficult situation”, said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers. “The Red Flag Law, also known as the Jake Laird Law, allows officers to seize a person’s gun if law enforcement thinks he/she is dangerous or mentally unstable”.
“We certainly support our 2nd Amendment and BCSO personnel is not in the business of confiscating legally-owned firearms.” “However, due to the mental capacity of this subject and the statements he made, BCSO deputies had no other choice”, added Sheriff Myers.
The name and/or location will not be released.
