The Athens-Clarke County Police Department said that on Thursday they received a call regarding a male who was walking into traffic and lying in the roadway.
Upon arrival, officers encountered the male, who appeared to be highly agitated, as he was screaming and making statements indicating that he wanted to harm himself.
Officers were able to safely move the subject from the roadway.
He was ultimately transported to a local hospital by EMS where he received appropriate care from medical professionals.
The man does not face any criminal charges, and police said he will be referred to members of the ACCPD's Jerry B. NeSmith Behavioral Health teams for follow-up.
All Athens-Clarke officers receive advanced mental health and crisis training. Such courses include, but are not limited to, Mental Health First Aid, Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), and Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT). Officers utilize skills learned in these classes to help deescalate situations when time, the environment, and public safety allows. To learn more about specific training that ACCPD officers receive, consider attending the next Citizen Police Academy, which starts April 13, 2021.
Anyone experiencing crisis can call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225 for 24- hour access to services and crisis help.