Bend man suffering mental health issues fires pellet gun shots, is taken into custody

Police say he fired shot through window, several aimed at police drone

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Bend man suffering a mental health crisis threatened his parents, shot out a window of the home they shared with a pellet rifle and later fired several rounds at a police drone before he was safely taken into protective custody, officers said Sunday.

Police were dispatched around 10:30 a.m. Friday to a home in the 600 block of Northwest Silver Buckle Road on a reported domestic disturbance, Lt. Robert Jones said.

Officers learned a 34-year-old man at the home was suffering from a mental health crisis and threatening his parents, whom he lives with, Jones said.

Officers also were told the man had been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical illness and had stopped taking his prescribed medications, the lieutenant said.

Officers tried to convince the man to peacefully go to the hospital, but he refused, Jones said.

Officers contacted the Deschutes County Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT) to help with a plan to safely take the man into protective custody and take him to the hospital for treatment.

But after consulting with MCAT, and due to the man's aggressive behavior, the decision was made to not take him into custody.

"Officers believed the male would likely be resistive," Jones wrote, "and that (the) situation could further jeopardize the male's health."

Around 1:30 p.m. Friday, officers were dispatched back to the home, again on a reported domestic disturbance. Jones said officers learned the man's aggressive behavior continued to escalate and he had shot out a window of the home with a pellet rifle.

Several officers, the Bend Police Community Response Team (CRT), MCAT and Bend Fire medics responded to the scene.

The man's parents left the home safely and met with officers, providing further information about their son's mental health condition and pysical health sisues, Jones said. Meanwhile, MCAT obtained a "director's hold," authorizing the man to be taken into protective custody.

Police used an unmanned aerial system to monitor the man's activities, as he was outside the home, unclothed and holding the pellet rifle, Jones said.

The drone allowed officers to monitor the man from a safe distance and ensure he did not leave the property or threaten neighbors. Jones said the man fired several rounds from the pellet rifle at the drone, but it was not hit.

Shortly before 3 p.m., officers were able to safely contact the man and take him into protective custody without further incident. He was injured, and was taken to St. Charles Bend for treatment.

Jones said he was not charged with any crimes.

"The Bend Police Department appreciates the assistance and ongoing partnership and relationship with Deschutes County Behavioral Health," Jones said in the news release. "Their commitment and assistance with these challenging incidents is invaluable and necessary to ensure our community is safe."