Armed man taken into custody, transported for mental health evaluation

Lake County Sheriff’s deputies safely took a 30-year-old man into custody Saturday, following a mental health-related incident that began early in the morning, police said.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. deputies received information that a 30-year-old man had sent a video depicting himself holding a firearm to his head and making suicidal statements.  Additional information indicated the man had also threatened to shoot law enforcement officers and others, authorities said.

Deputies went to the man’s residence in unincorporated Cary, in the area of Hickory Nut Grove Road, and established contact with him.  During the encounter, police said, the man’s behavior became increasingly agitated and confrontational.  Through investigation, deputies determined two other adults, who normally reside at the home, were staying elsewhere for the night and were not in danger.

To avoid unnecessarily escalating the situation, deputies “disengaged from the scene, while continuing investigative efforts and monitoring the circumstances,” according to a news release.

A short time later, police said, county detectives obtained a Firearms Restraining Order and a search warrant for the residence.  The court orders were sought to safely secure firearms from the home and allow family members to safely return to the residence, police said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was utilized to execute the court-authorized search warrant. SWAT team members entered the residence and determined the man was not inside, police said.

Detectives later learned the man had left the residence in a vehicle but remained in the area.  Lake County Sheriff’s detectives, working in coordination with the Cary Police Department, located the vehicle in a parking lot near Three Oaks Road and Route 14 in Cary.

Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives and Cary Police Officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop and safely took the man into custody without the use of force. The man was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation and to receive appropriate care and services.

During the execution of the search warrant, police said detectives recovered multiple firearms from the residence pursuant to the court order.