Officers with the Fairfield Police Department safely resolved a juvenile mental health crisis Saturday evening without serious injuries after a tense, nearly 15 minute standoff.
Police say officers were called to a Fairfield residence around 8:30 p.m. after receiving a report of a juvenile threatening self-harm while holding a knife.
When officers arrived, they began speaking with the juvenile, using Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, training to calmly de-escalate the situation. After about 15 minutes, the juvenile agreed to put the knife down safely.
As officers attempted to take the juvenile into protective custody for a mental health evaluation, police say the juvenile became combative, biting and kicking officers. The juvenile was eventually taken into custody and transported to Jefferson County Health Center for evaluation.
Police say the juvenile again became combative at the hospital, attempting to assault a healthcare worker and a family member. Officers intervened and were reportedly assaulted again while safely restraining the juvenile.
The Fairfield Police Department praised the responding officers for their professionalism, patience, and restraint throughout the incident, saying they relied on their crisis intervention training and used only the amount of force necessary to protect the juvenile, healthcare staff, family members, and themselves.
Because the incident involves a juvenile, no identifying information has been released. The department says it remains committed to responding to mental health crises with compassion while prioritizing the safety of everyone involved.