A tense standoff in the Southern Ohio Medical Center parking lot ended peacefully thanks to quick coordination between police, social workers, and crisis responders.
Around 9 a.m., officers were called after a social worker reported that a woman, sent to the hospital for mental health treatment by a local counseling center, refused to leave her white truck. The hospital’s Quick Response Team also tried to persuade her but had no luck.
Police contacted a local mental health center, which agreed to dispatch its crisis response team but requested an officer stand by for safety. Officers also consulted the woman’s probation officer, who said she had missed required check-ins and authorized police to place a probation holder if necessary.
Ultimately, the crisis response team was able to file a “pink slip”, an involuntary order for psychiatric evaluation, and escort the woman safely into the hospital. The only disruption came when she shouted profanities at bystanders.
On the Front Lines of the Mental Health Crisis
Officials praised the teamwork that resolved the situation without force, noting that officers are often the first called when someone in crisis refuses help. Balancing compassion, safety, and the law is a daily challenge for law enforcement, who are increasingly on the front lines of the region’s addiction and mental health struggles.
Police urged residents to call 911 if someone appears to be in crisis, emphasizing that every response is handled with care, patience, and the goal of connecting individuals to treatment.
