A brief standoff between Ark City police and a man who told a police dispatcher he "wanted to die," ended peacefully Wednesday.
Just after 9:30 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of North C St. after the man had called the police department. The man, 60, who was not identified by name, was sitting on his porch with what appeared to a be a rifle.
Officers took cover and began to speak with the man, according to a report of the incident.
Police anticipated a long standoff and called a regional SWAT team for assistance. However, the man was quickly talked into surrendering his weapon – which turned out to be a BB gun – and was taken into custody.
He was evaluated by Cowley County Mental Health and later taken to Osawatomie Hospital for treatment.
Ark City police chief Sean Wallace said the man was attempting to commit so called suicide by cop, a phenomena in which people provoke law enforcement into using lethal force against them.
