Fort Walton Beach Police Department officers safely resolved a critical incident Wednesday involving an armed man in crisis after an extended standoff and negotiation effort, according to the department.
- At approximately 12:32 p.m. on April 29, officers on routine patrol encountered an adult male standing in the roadway at the intersection of Mooney Road NE and Windsor Lane NE. The man was holding a knife to his neck and making statements indicating he intended to harm himself, police said.
When the man saw officers, he fled on foot into a nearby residence. Officers established a perimeter around the home, and another occupant contacted law enforcement to report that the man had become increasingly agitated and was behaving violently out of fear of being arrested, according to the department.
A short time later, the man exited the residence armed with a firearm, which he reportedly pointed at himself. Officers began crisis intervention efforts and entered into negotiations aimed at resolving the situation peacefully.
- After approximately two hours, the Okaloosa County Multijurisdictional Special Operations Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded and assumed command of the incident.
The man then attempted to breach the established perimeter. Officers used less-lethal force and a K9 unit to take him into custody without further incident. He was transported for medical evaluation.
Nearby roadways were temporarily closed during the incident as a precaution, and area schools were placed on lockdown.
