Delaware State Police
News Release

DSP News Release: Monday, January 26, 2009- Trooper’s Patience Thwarts a Suicide by Cop Attempt

Location of Incident: Parking lot of the Sunoco- 1950 South Maryland Avenue, Wilmington, Delaware, New Castle County

Date and Time of Occurrence: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 9:36 p.m.

Suspects: Unidentified 36-year0old Wilmington Resident

Resume: On Saturday, January 24^th, Troopers were called to the Sunoco on South Maryland Avenue for the report of a disorderly subject. 

A Troop 6 patrol officer arrived on the scene and initially visually canvassed the area.  He took notice to a male subject crouching down on the ground with his hands concealed in his waistband.  Instead of approaching, this officer trusted his intuition and he kept his distance. He engaged the male subject in some dialogue at which time the subject stood up and produced a knife from his waistband. 

The subject began telling the Trooper to take his life.  The Trooper kept this obviously disturbed subject engaged in conversation and while back-up officers responded.  Additional units arrived on the scene with tasers at the ready.  The initial Trooper was able to establish a rapport with the subject- who was now pleading for the Trooper to shoot him.  Finally, after several minutes of negotiating, the subject in question put the knife down and surrendered peacefully.

He was transported to an area hospital where he was admitted for evaluation.  The initial Troopers on the scene exercised sound judgment and patience which allowed a potentially deadly situation to be thwarted.