Gurnee police help defuse man’s mental health crisis

Gurnee police officers were able to safely and successfully resolve a situation involving a 19-year-old man experiencing a mental health crisis on Tuesday at a local mall, officials said.

Officers responded to a report of a man threatening to hit a woman around 3:40 p.m., the release said. When they arrived, the man started also making threats toward officers.

According to a news release from the Gurnee Police Department, officers were able to take control of the situation by using de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention tactics. The man was then taken into custody, where he received medical care and mental health support.

Nobody was hurt; shoppers and mall employees remained safe during the incident.

Chief Brian Smith stated he was proud of his team for how his team handled this incident by demonstrating courage and compassion.