Lake County sheriff’s deputies successfully defused a situation where a man was threatening to harm himself with scissors, the department said.
The incident took place Thursday at around 11 p.m. when deputies responded to a hit-and-run accident at Beach and North avenues in Beach Park.
The officers determined that the vehicle that left the scene would have heavy damage, and they located it near Chaplin and Geraghty avenues. The driver, a 45-year-old man, was inside, injured and holding the scissors to his throat, threatening to harm himself, authorities said.
Deputies John Forlenza, Roxana Stancioiu, Robert Wysocki, and Kyle Kenna spent two hours with the man, using de-escalation tactics to finally convince the man to drop the scissors and exit the car.
He was brought to a hospital for physical and mental health treatment.
“This is what protecting the community is all about,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “Our deputies truly care about the people we serve, and it’s routine for them — and law enforcement across Lake County — to go above and beyond, putting themselves in harm’s way to save lives.
“The deputies took the time to help a man in crisis to get the support he needs,” he said. “Their courage and compassion exemplify the best of what it means to serve and protect.”
Advice to parents
School lockdowns are a sad fact of modern life. Whether the trouble is inside the school, or school officials are acting in response to external situations, facilities will often have to go into a protective lockdown.
Such incidents are, of course, frightening to everyone involved, including anxious parents. Gurnee police recently posted some information online on how parents should react when they learn of critical incidents at school. Following the proper steps can go a long way toward ensuring a positive outcome during a potential emergency, police said.
Gurnee offered several tips.
Parents should not rush to school, they said. That can impede first responders from doing their jobs, and it can also place parents in a potentially harmful situation.
Don’t spread rumors on social media that can cause panic and confusion, police said. Information will come from your school or your local police department. Follow those instructions.
Fall driving tips
Zion police published some timely reminders about fall driving recently on their Facebook page. The days are getting shorter as the weather begins to cool.
ZPD offered these safe motoring tips: Treat fallen leaves on the road like ice patches. Wet leaves can cause slick spots. Make sure your tires and brakes are in good shape, and give yourself extra stopping distance.
Shorter days increase the chances of an encounter with an animal. Watch for animals near the road and use your high beams to see farther ahead. Brake, don’t swerve, if there’s something in the road.
Fog and frost can accompany cooler temperatures. Clear your windshield before you drive. and use caution when approaching bridges and overpasses.
The sun is lower in the sky, so use your visor or sunglasses to avoid glare.
Trick-or-treaters
Halloween is fast approaching, so motorists need to exercise caution with little ghosts and goblins out trick-or-treating.
Most towns in Lake County have set their Halloween hours on the traditional Oct. 31 date, but a few places have opted for a different day. For a complete list of times, head to the following website: https://www.visitlakecounty.org/blog/trick-or-treat-hours-in-lake-county-2024
