West Fargo Police Department and Red River Valley SWAT respond to suicidal male

Photo by: WDAY Radio Staff
Photo by: WDAY Radio Staff

(West Fargo, ND) -- A West Fargo man is receiving a mental health evaluation after a over two-hour standoff with law enforcement Friday afternoon.

The West Fargo Police Department says that around 10:50 p.m, officers responded to a report of an armed suicidal male at an apartment building in the 400 block of 5th Ave. E. in West Fargo, just Southeast of the West Fargo Public Library. The caller reported a male friend was threatening to shoot himself and they had unsuccessfully attempted to remove a handgun from the suicidal male.

When officers arrived on scene, the male remained armed with a handgun while threatening he was holding the gun to his head. Officers isolated the male to a single apartment, evacuated others from the scene and instructed neighbors to shelter in place to ensure public safety. Officers were successful in contacting and speaking with the suicidal male over the phone.

The Red River Valley SWAT Negotiations Unit assisted officers already on scene. After over two hours of conversation, the suicidal male voluntarily exited the apartment unarmed and without injury. He was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.