COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies invoked the “red flag law” to confiscate a large number of guns from a county residence after a man with a history of medical and mental health issues made statements about harming himself or having others harm him and deputies were notified.
Deputies were called to a county residence at 2:30 p.m. Friday by a woman who said her husband was making statements about harming himself, and asking others to harm him.
The man, who deputies declined to identify due to the medical issues, owns and keeps numerous firearms inside the residence and had placed the firearms around the house, handing one to his wife asking her to shoot him, deputies said.
He also told her he would draw a gun on others who carry so that they might shoot him, deputies said.
Based on her fear and the statements he made, deputies responded to the residence and made contact with the subject through an open window. Deputies observed multiple firearms inside the residence as well as a handgun strapped to the man’s hip.
After about 30-minutes of negotiation, with no progress being made, Sgt. Andrew Whipker and Deputy Jon Lanning took advantage of an opportunity to grab the man through the open window and secured him.
At that time, BCSO Captain Dave Steinkoenig forced open the door and he, along with Deputy Frank Munoz and Deputy Ryland Fluhr entered the home and secured the individual, deputies said,
The man was taken to Columbus Regional Hospital for evaluation.
BCSO Detective Terry Holderness arrived on scene and began “Red Flag Law” procedures which included confiscating 20 firearms and removing them from the residence, deputies said.
“This was a very difficult situation,” said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers. “The Red Flag Law, also known as the Jake Laird Law, allows officers to seize a person’s gun if law enforcement thinks he/she is dangerous or mentally unstable.”
