Fort Wayne residents can breathe a sigh of relief this weekend. The Fort Wayne Police Department recently responded to a high-stakes situation on Franklin Ave that could have put more lives at risk. According to a report from the Fort Wayne Police Department, officers were called to a home on the 1500 block of Franklin Ave to address a potential mental health crisis.
A disturbing discovery awaited the law enforcement officers once inside. They identified what looked to be a destructive device — the presence of which necessitated the detention of the suspect, Glen Monday, and the immediate withdrawal of officers to procure help from the Hazards Devices Unit (HDU). The HDU, wearing protective gear that made them seem like they were walking on the moon, intervened to secure the threatening item, rendering it harmless.
This arrest follows close on the heels of the response team's collection of firearms, glimpsed by officers in plain view. Indiana's "Red Flag" law, which allows for the temporary seizure of firearms from individuals deemed to be a danger to themselves or others, played a key role in the day's events. Monday was subsequently taken to a local hospital for medical clearance and later booked into the Allen County Lock-up on preliminary charges of Lvl 5 Felony Possession of a Destructive Device.
For those who are unacquainted, the level of charge indicates a seriousness that the justice system does not take lightly for the possession of a destructive device. The public has been assured that there is "no further threat to the public at this time," as relayed by the Fort Wayne Police Department's report. While the circumstances leading up to this incident remain to be fully understood, what is clear is that the quick response and the laws in place helped avert potential disaster.
