Over the weekend, the Sedalia Police Department received a report of a suicidal subject who was armed with a gun.

According to the Pettis County Sheriff’s Department, further Investigation allowed law-enforcement officers to locate the individual near Houstonia parked in a field.

Officer Barrett with SPD maintained phone contact with the individual as Sgt. Dehaven, Deputies Morley and Chancellor, and Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper Grose responded to the field.

The individual fired two shots while speaking with Officer Barrett, but because of his persistence and empathy, the individual agreed to relinquish himself into the custody of deputies. The individual was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center for further treatment.

A sheriff’s department official says, “This is an excellent example of inter-agency cooperation. From our dispatchers to the officers involved, excellent communication resulted in getting help for an individual in crisis. We all go through very dark times; myself included. Please remember that there is always someone who cares and will be there to listen. We have excellent resources here is Pettis County, so please never be ashamed to ask for help. Together we can bring you out of the darkness. I am so very proud of our deputies, dispatchers, SPD, MSHP, and the staff at Bothwell for caring enough to lend a hand when someone needed it. Remember, we are always here for you.”