A quiet stretch of Dolwick Drive turned into a blocked-off police zone Tuesday morning as Durham officers and a city mental health team surrounded a home where a resident refused to come out. Police sealed off the 4500 block of Dolwick Drive and parts of nearby Edenberry Drive, set up a safety perimeter and brought in crisis responders after the person inside reportedly barricaded themself. Crews remain on scene and authorities say the investigation is still active.
What responders say
According to WRAL, Durham Police asked drivers to avoid the 4500 block of Dolwick Drive and Edenberry Drive while officers and the HEART Team headed out Tuesday morning to check on someone at the home. When they arrived, the outlet reports, the person refused to come out and barricaded themself inside, prompting officers to establish a perimeter while they worked to talk the resident into coming out safely.
What the HEART Team Is
The HEART Team, short for Durham's Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Team, pairs licensed clinicians, peer-support specialists and EMTs to answer behavioral health and welfare-check calls, either instead of police or alongside them. As detailed by Durham's Community Safety Department, the program launched in 2022 and is designed to de-escalate crises, provide care on scene and link residents with follow-up services. City materials say the goal is to reduce confrontations and steer many nonviolent calls away from the criminal legal system, although the effort is still constrained by staffing and limited operating hours.
Perimeter, delays and safety
WRAL reports that Durham Police set up a perimeter around the home and described the situation as an active, ongoing investigation. Drivers were urged to stay clear of the affected stretch of Dolwick Drive and nearby Edenberry Drive while officers and clinicians continued their work. Residents who need information that is not an emergency can call Durham Police’s non-emergency line at 919-560-4600.
Why this matters
Durham’s reliance on the HEART model in situations like this is part of a broader national shift toward sending clinicians on some mental health and welfare calls. Research and audits have found that these teams can resolve many encounters without arrest, although they often run into resource and scheduling limits. Evaluations by organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have highlighted both the promise and the practical challenges of putting this kind of response in place, especially when teams are not available around the clock.
