Armed man calls 911, reports mental health crisis; part of Bend’s Forum Shopping Center locked down until surrender

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A man who called 911 to report he was experiencing a mental health crisis – and had a gun – prompted a half-hour lockdown of several businesses at the Forum Shopping Center on Thursday afternoon, until police negotiators were able to end the incident peacefully.

The employee of a business at the shopping center on Northeast Highway 20 called Deschutes County 911 dispatchers shortly after 1 p.m. to report he was undergoing a mental health crisis and had a firearm with him, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

“Bend Police negotiators were able to talk to the man by phone and convince him to step away from his firearm, exit his place of business and make contact with officers, who transported him to the Deschutes County Stabilization Center without incident or injury,” Miller said in a news release.

“The man committed no crimes during the incident,” she added.

Miller said several nearby businesses were locked down “out of an abundance of caution.” Bend Fire medics also staged in the area, and there was a large police presence until the incident ended.

The Central Oregon Emergency Response Team (CERT) had not been called out, but an armored vehicle was en route “and prepared to stage in case it was needed,” Miller said.

Miller did not release the names of the businesses placed in lockdown but said she was not aware of any evacuations due to the situation.

She also said the east Bend Safeway apparently was not among the businesses affected by the lockdown.

In August of 2022, a 20-year-old gunman fired over 100 shots before and after he entered the grocery store, killing a customer, then a store worker who confronted him with a produce knife, before he turned the gun on himself.