SAUGUS — A 38-year-old “emotionally distressed” man who barricaded himself inside a home armed with a pipe was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, according to a statement from the Police Department.
Saugus Police responded to a home in the area of upper Main Street at 10:07 a.m. Monday to assist the man, Chief Michael Ricciardelli said in the statement. Officers were joined on scene by a crisis negotiator from the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council.
Responding officers were ably to employ proactive de-escalation tactics, including “establishing communication and using verbal persuasion, containing the man to a confined space, waiting the situation out, and using time to their advantage,” the statement said. In order to establish compliance, officers had “less lethal force options available.”
After a “short period,” the man was taken into custody peacefully and brought to an area hospital for evaluation. The man, whose name was not released, will not face criminal charges as a result of the incident because no members of the public were in danger, according to the statement.
“Mental health is an epidemic, everyday police respond to calls not only in Saugus but all over the Commonwealth,” the statement said. “If you or a loved one is hurting please don’t hesitate to call 911 or get some help.”
