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SERT call ends peacefully in Portsmouth Resident hospitalized for a mental health crisis

Portsmouth Herald - 1/17/2018

PORTSMOUTH - A four-hour police response, which included activation of the Seacoast Emergency Response Team, ended peacefully with a resident hospitalized for a mental health crisis, said Police Chief Robert Merner.

Police were first called about the incident on Tuesday at 5:15 a.m. when they were notified by family members that the man was in crisis, the chief said. Patrol officials first responded to the home at 592 Dennett St. where the man resisted offers of help, refused to cooperate and locked himself inside the home, police said. The officers were advised the man did not have access to weapons, but police on scene did see him swinging a baseball bat inside the home, according to police.

In response, public works employees were called to barricade the area of Dennett Street closest to Woodbury Avenue and firefighters were dispatched to stage in the event of a medical emergency. Merner said school officials were notified to reroute buses going to the New Franklin School and a negotiator was called to the scene.

Shortly after sunrise, the SERT activation was made with a goal of getting the man safely into custody and to somewhere he can receive help, the chief said. New Hampshire State Police and the Rockingham County Sheriff's Department assisted at the scene.

At about 9:15 a.m., four hours after the initial call, the man surrendered himself to the large group of officers that had surrounded the home. Merner said he was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital for an evaluation.