Deputies defuse and help disorderly, paranoid male

SPOKANE — Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies successfully defused a probable drug-related disorderly, paranoia situation in North Spokane last week.

On Jan. 9, at approximately 3:50 a.m., deputies responded to several 911 calls of a male yelling for help. The 911 operator called the number back after the line was disconnected. A male answered the phone and said, “You aren’t real,” and hung up.

Additional call-back attempts went unanswered before he again answered, but refused to answer questions and continued screaming things like, “They got me, help me.”

One caller reported hearing what was believed to be a gunshot, and observed a male, described as possibly high or intoxicated, screaming in the courtyard of an apartment complex.

Deputies arrived and located the erratic adult male who continually yelled nonsensical statements and acting paranoid as he paced back and forth.

Efforts to de-escalate and calm the male down or establish coherent dialogue were unsuccessful. The deputies were able to eventually to control male and place him in handcuffs, despite continued resistance, and additional restraints were applied.

Due to the man’s erratic behaviors and physical indicators that he was possibly high, fire department and American Medical Response staff who had been staged in the area responded to assist as the man resisted efforts to place him on a gurney.

He was transported to a hospital where he could receive medical treatment.

An acquaintance told deputies the man had recently relapsed and was using alcohol and methamphetamine, and his behavior had deteriorated throughout the day as his paranoia increased.

No one was injured during the incident.

 

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