A situation involving an armed man at the police station in Appleton was safely diffused.
The Appleton Police Department has stated that yesterday (September 3rd) in the early morning hours, an officer encountered a man wielding an axe in the south lot at the station.
The officer held the man at gunpoint to ensure the public’s safety while also trying to start a dialogue with the individual.
Additional officers joined in and were able to safely de-escalate the situation.
After continued communication with the armed man, he dropped the axe and stepped away before being brought into custody.
He would later tell police that he was experiencing suicidal thoughts and that he came to the police station with the axe, intending to force a confrontation with law enforcement.
The individual was not placed under arrest but rather transported to a local hospital to receive mental health treatment.
The Appleton PD applauded their officers involved in the situation, stating that the importance of de-escalation tactics can play a pivotal role when encountering an individual experiencing a crisis such as this.
If you or someone you know is experiencing such a crisis, help is always available by calling or texting the 988 lifeline.
