A man who deputies say made suicidal threats and drove to the Poplar Springs boat ramp in Tellico Village was taken into custody after a nearly two-hour standoff on Sunday. Loudon County Sheriff's deputies, crisis negotiators, and SWAT members converged on the ramp after the man refused to leave his vehicle, according to authorities.
Loudon County dispatchers received a 911 call and tracked the vehicle to Highway 444 before an attempted traffic stop turned into a brief pursuit, according to WVLT. Dispatchers stayed on the phone with the driver during the pursuit, and the man eventually agreed to pull into the Poplar Springs Boat Ramp, where negotiators and SWAT took over.
Standoff at Poplar Springs Boat Ramp
According to a post from the Loudon County Sheriff's Office, the man refused to get out of the vehicle and would not give up his firearm, prompting negotiators and SWAT to set up around the ramp. Deputies used less-lethal bean-bag rounds and a TASER during the arrest, and officials said the man was taken into custody around 4:40 p.m. and transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
How Deputies Ended the Standoff
Deputies initially responded to the man's home before locating the vehicle on Highway 444 and attempting a traffic stop, the station reported. WVLT reports that negotiators kept in contact with the driver until he agreed to stop at the boat ramp, where officers de-escalated the situation before moving in to make the arrest.
Resources and Response
The Sheriff's Office thanked Loudon County E-911, Priority Ambulance, Lenoir City Police, and the Loudon Police Department for their assistance, according to the Loudon County Sheriff's Office post. For anyone in crisis, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health notes that the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects callers and texters to trained counselors 24/7, and authorities reminded residents to call 911 if they are in immediate danger. More information is available from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health.
