WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. – Deputies with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office responded to a welfare check for a 36-year-old man who was experiencing mental health concerns.
Officials said they made contact with the man when they arrived Wednesday (March 19) at 12:44 p.m. in the 2900 block of Roundtree Blvd.
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Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Commander Eugene Rush said deputies encountered the man experiencing mental health concerns before he barricaded himself inside his home while refusing to communicate with them.
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Members of the hostage crisis negotiation team were called to the scene to attempt communication, but the man remained non-compliant.
At some point, officials said the man set his apartment on fire before exiting the building.
The fire department and the special response team safely took him into custody.
When asked about the man’s mental health status, Rush said, “We don’t know. We don’t have that information at this time, and we’re investigating it. But we did know that he had some mental health concerns.”
Rush said no injuries, including the man involved, were reported during the incident.
As of 8 p.m., the extent of the damage to the apartment was unclear, but it was considered a total loss due to the fire.
Rush expressed relief over the safe resolution, saying, “Well, it’s an unfortunate situation, but we were able to safely get him to safety, and hopefully, he can get the help that he needs.”
