Suicidal Subject Subdued By Police

On September 1, 2012, at approximately 9:55 p.m. Ocean City Police responded to the area of 2109 Philadelphia Avenue to check on the welfare of an unknown male subject. Citizens called police after the man, whose name is not being released, was initially acting disorderly but had since walked away from the area and passed out in a vehicle that was parked at the above address.

Officers met with the male, who appeared to be highly intoxicated, and learned that he had been arguing with his girlfriend and was upset over the altercation. The subject suddenly produced a folding knife from within the vehicle, opened it and held it to his own throat. Officers immediately established a perimeter around the vehicle, restricting the vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the area.

While attempting to negotiate with the male, he pulled the knife away from his body but was still holding it in his hand. During this time, an officer equipped with an Electronic Control Device (ECD) seized the opportunity to deploy his ECD into the subject. The subject experienced neuro-muscular incapacitation and dropped the knife.

At this time, officers were able to pull the subject from the vehicle and take him into custody. Despite the impact sites from the ECD probes, the subject was not injured during this incident. He was transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center (PRMC) for an emergency evaluation and also received treatment to remove the ECD probes, which had become imbedded when he fell.

While at PRMC, the subject made statements that he intended to commit “suicide by cop” but the officers’ actions stopped him before he got the opportunity. This incident was successfully resolved through the use of the ECD. Since February 2012, Ocean City Police officers have had 10 uses of the new weapon.