Lake County Gazette

Lake County Sheriff's deputies deescalated a tense situation in Wauconda involving a man who had a firearm and was threatening self-harm. The deputies responded to a call at 5 p.m. on June 3.

According to a Lake County Sheriff's Office press release, deputies responded to an address in the 27700 block of North Orchard Drive in unincorporated Wauconda after receiving a report of an intoxicated, suicidal man armed with a firearm. After observing the man in distress exit his home with the firearm, they used de-escalation techniques to speak with him, who agreed to drop the weapon. Following continued communication, he agreed to walk away from the firearm and towards the deputies.

The man was taken to an area hospital for a mental health evaluation and treatment, according to the press release. Deputies retrieved the pistol he had dropped and removed seven rifles and shotguns, plus thousands of rounds of ammunition from his home.

The Sheriff's Office submitted a "Clear and Present Danger" form to the Illinois State Police (ISP). Law enforcement and school superintendents have 24 hours after making such a determination to file this form. The ISP uses clear and present danger reporting to identify individuals who pose an actual, imminent threat of substantial bodily harm to themselves or others if granted access to firearms or ammunition.

"This is another example of how the staff at the sheriff’s office, from our emergency dispatchers to those responding to the scene, utilize de-escalation skills instead of force," Sheriff John Idleburg said in the press release. "This is an example of what they do every single day. I am very proud of all of those involved in deescalating this tense situation."