The threatened use of a “Less Lethal” device, which fires a projectile that inflicts pain, was enough to finally stop a Morristown man from attempting suicide in Morris Township on Sunday, reports Township Acting Police Chief Mark DiCarlo.
Officers from the Township, assisted by Morristown police, stopped the 27-year-old man from stabbing himself in the chest with a broken bottle on Monroe Street.
Police pleaded with the distraught man for 20 minutes to drop the bottle; Township Patrolman Robert Hydock then produced the shoulder-launched FN303, DiCarlo reported in a statement.
Here is the statement.
FROM MORRIS TOWNSHIP ACTING POLICE CHIEF MARK DiCARLO:
Police Officers prevent Emotionally Disturbed Person from killing himself
On Sunday, August 20, 2017, at 5:57 a.m., Morris Township Police Officers responded to Monroe Street on the report of what appeared to be an emotionally disturbed male stabbing himself with a broken bottle.
The 27-year-old Morristown man was highly agitated, making comments about “hearing voices and wanting to die.” The male also had visible lacerations to his body and was continuing to stab himself in the chest with the broken bottle.
Morris Township Officers O’Hare, Dombrowski, Farrell, Hydock and Gonzalez were joined by Morristown Police Officers Lamperti, Birch, Cerrick, De Los Santos, and Briscoe.
The officers on the scene continued to order the male to drop the broken bottle and stop hurting himself.
The officers further explained that they were there to help the male, however it was apparent that the male was committed to hurting himself and continued to refuse to cooperate with the officers.
Over 20 minutes passed with officers continuing to plead with the male to drop the broken bottle.
Eventually the male dropped the bottle after Morris Township officer Hydock, using Constructive Authority, displayed a Less Lethal device, called the FN303.
The device projects a non-penetrating plastic projectile that causes temporary discomfort. The device was not fired. However, the warning to use the device was enough for the male to drop the broken bottle.
The FN303 is just one of several non-lethal devices the Morris Township Police have acquired in order to have options other than lethal force when dealing with violent individuals.
All officers on the scene were in potential danger of this male directing his violent behavior towards them.
I am proud to recognize the officers of both Morristown and Morris Township Police for maintaining their primary responsibility of “preserving Life” and providing much needed mental and medical assistance to the individual who was taken to the Morristown Medical Center for treatment and evaluation.
