Barnegat PD, is currently dealing with what may be a standoff situation in the Atlantic Heights Apartments, in Barnegat New Jersey. We are unsure what caused the original caller to request a PESS evaluation for the subject, but PESS requested a police escort at around 2pm.
PESS is the acronym for New Jersey’s Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services. PESS provides in-hospital emergency screening services, crisis intervention, stabilization and treatment as well as Mobile outreach to those who are experiencing acute psychiatric distress as well as traumatic incident debriefing.
While dispatch has said the subject is negative for registered fire arms, it was mentioned at one point that the subject may have PTSD.
The subject was spotted several times at the front door or back door of his residence, and the police have tried to reach him via the PA, but the subject closed his door at that point.
Contact was finally made via phone, but it has been mentioned multiple times that he refused to leave the residence. Units were asked to calmly ask him to reply so as to not trigger PTSD. At that point the suspect was at the front door with his shirt up before heading back inside and then coming back outside the back to smoke. Again the subject lifted his shirt and asked officers to not shoot him.
Following this incident, units were asked if they were confident there was nothing in his waist. One unit said they saw him take off his shirt and drop his pants and were confident there was nothing in his pants.
After this discussion it was mentioned they were asking the suspect to lift his shirt as they approached. This was followed by asking the original responding officer to spark up a rapport.
Units were finally able to enter the residence at 4:47pm.
Brett Solano lol
Stacie Gentile Only a sick person would think this is funny.
Brianna Delgado
I don’t understand what’s so funny here!!!!
Lindsay Tate
Nicole Danielle thank god everyone is ok
But but but… we don’t need police… unarmed social workers will be just fine.
Tonya Leigh you beat me to it.
Tonya Leigh the whole point of this is that the first person on the scene is a mental healthcare professional who can assess what’s going on, and advise the police if there’s a threat that requires force, or just an escort for someone not in their right mind.
That way you don’t get situations where the police misinterpret someone having a mental health situation as an invitation to use deadly forever. There are programs just like this in several States across the country that show this system works in getting specialized help to the people that need it while also helping the police avoid issues where the police just use deadly force without understanding the situation.
Tonya Leigh My thoughts exactly!! ????
Mike Battaglino so basically throw the mental health worker in as…bait? If he gets hurt send the police if not, we good to leave?
Mike Battaglino Sir, I know of NO Police force thats going to allow an unarmed civilian into a standoff situation to “assess” and “advise” if force is needed or not, and frankly, I don’t think you’ll find many social workers who are willing do this!!!…..TM
Sarah Jabbahan now that there is funny!!!…..as bait!!!????
Sarah Jabbahan no the mental health workers aren’t bait….
Mental health workers are certified and instructed on how to respond to issues that folks suffering from a mental health crisis are enduring in such a way that they can get them the help and resources they need to get things under control.
Sending the police alone to deal with these issues is the equivalent to calling the police to put out a fire at your house. The police are the incorrect tool by themselves to use for this situation.
Not to mention police departments by and large have practically begged for more specialized help in dealing with these situations.
Mike Battaglino I guess you have a lot of experience with PESS evaluation and suicidal behavior at a persons home. Usually it’s the cops talking down the subject because PESS pissed them off even more.
Nancy N Terry Mooney the police work in conjunction with these social workers. The program is literally talked about in the article, and the national results of such programs are overwhelmingly positive.
Mike Battaglino Police come with them. They didn’t go there by themselves
Tom Faulkner
Are you sure it is Laurel Oaks????
Maria Pereira no it’s Atlantic heights just watched it all outside the building I work at
Alyssa Nicole That is exactly what I thought. I didn’t think we would have two instances like this within a couple hours of each other. Wanted to get the page moderator to see they might be incorrect
Maria Pereira something else like this just happened somewhere else?!
Alyssa Nicole what??? Really in Barnegat???
Maria Pereira oh I thought that’s what you said! But I read it wrong ????????♀️
Alyssa Nicole oh ok lol
This wasn’t at laurel oaks. It was the Atlantic heights townhouses.
Taylor Patricia
In NJ, over 18 always has a police escort for a pess call.
Dave La ????????♂️????
Joe Girgenti
I’m glad the individual is being helped ????????
Mike Neuner Barbara Pishkur-Neuner
I didn’t read the article, but it’s common for Police to be on scene in such situations.
Correction: Atlantic Heights Apartments, NOT Laurel Oaks
EDIT: THIS STORY WAS EDITED AT 6:22PM, MONDAY MARCH 1ST, 2021 TO STATE ATLANTIC HEIGHTS INSTEAD OF LAUREL OAKS. LAUREL OAKS BASED ON READER FEEDBACK. — OCSN03
Edward David Allen
Jennifer M Grippe wow ok
Jøñ Døhërtÿ
Valerie Titus
Was a few buildings away from me
Hailey Christine my nixel alert
Brittany Smith Close to my bosses house
People are beyond their breaking point this past year, and now only 3 months into the New Year. Its so sad, because I just lost my brother a week ago who was struggling with problems. I really hope this individual gets the help he needs. Sending extra prayers for him tonight
The lost word of the English language … Accountability. Mental health needs help yes, but accountability needs to be held by everyone and the latter not be hid behind.