Lynn police defuse suicide attempt

LYNN-A recent incident involving a suicidal man who barricaded himself in a YMCA bathroom, ended peacefully and without confrontation.On Nov. 11 at approximately 6:40 p.m., Lynn Police responded to the YMCA at 20 Neptune Blvd on a report of a suicidal man armed with a knife.According to Captain Mark O?Toole, members of the department?s Special Response Team (SRT) were directed to a bathroom where a 41-year-old man had barricaded himself inside.Officers ordered another man involved in the incident to exit the bathroom as they confronted the suicidal person.After a short time, the man came out of the bathroom with two knives pushed against his throat, bleeding from both wrists, hysterical and threatening suicide.As officers spoke to the man, he stepped toward them and continued to push the knives into his neck, which caused bleeding.Officers then deployed the SAGE 37mm Less-Lethal Launcher, which is typically used in such instances.After throwing the knives to the floor, the man was transported to a local hospital for mental health treatment.O?Toole said the incident could have taken a deadly turn.?The situation potentially had several outcomes, but the deployment of SRT personnel and equipment, provided several options to resolve the incident as safely as possible,” he said.The SRT unit is comprised of 24 officers, including 19 patrol officers, four supervisors, four crisis negotiators and a supervisory team leader.All SRT personnel are qualified to operate department patrol rifles, shotguns and the SAGE 37mm Less-Lethal Launcher, which was used during the incident.