Wrightsville Beach police respond to armed man experiencing mental health crisis

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Wrightsville Beach police responded Saturday morning to a report of an armed man experiencing a mental health crisis, prompting a temporary road closure and evacuation of nearby residents.

Police were called at about 10:15 a.m. to the 2300 block of North Lumina Avenue. When officers arrived, the man had barricaded himself inside a residence with a weapon, according to the Wrightsville Beach Police Department.

Officers evacuated people from the residence and nearby homes and established a perimeter around the area. North Lumina Avenue was closed at Circle Drive to reduce the risk to the public and provide space for responding officers and their equipment.

Residents in the area were instructed to shelter in place through a CodeRED emergency notification.

The Regional Crisis Negotiations Team responded with its command bus, and officers and crisis negotiators made multiple attempts to establish communication with the man.

After about two hours, officers approached the residence and attempted to communicate with him through the front door, police said.

The man eventually exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident. He was transported by EMS to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Wilmington Police Department, Leland Police Department, Wrightsville Beach Fire Department, Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue and Novant EMS also responded to assist.