Northfield Officers Awarded for Preventing Suicide

Two Northfield police officers are being praised for their actions that helped safely resolve a potentially deadly encounter with a suicidal male.

Earlier this month, Sgt. Scott Johnson and Officer Josh Nelson received Medals of Merit from the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office. The award is a result of their assistance to the Sheriff’s Office dealing with an armed suicidal man on the Waterford Bridge, according to a news release.

On May 12 at 4:35 p.m., Dakota County Deputy Tony Welin helped the Farmington police locate a suicidal male. A cell phone company was able to ping the subject’s cell phone near the old Canada Bridge in Waterford Township.

Northfield police officers Sgt. Scott Johnson and Officer Joshua Nelson arrived shortly afterwards.

Welin talked him into moving from the ledge and onto the bridge surface. The man then told officers to shoot him. The subject then pulled a multi-tool knife out of his pocket and extended the blade.

The subject walked towards the officers with the open knife pointed in their direction, saying, "draw your gun, draw your gun."

Welin and Nelson then simultaneously tased the man. He was taken into custody without injury and transported for mental health evaluation.

Police say based on the circumstances, this could have been a justifiable, lethal shooting situation.

Welin, Nelson, and Johnson used their sound judgment to apprehend the subject using the least amount of force they felt was appropriate, according to police.

Image: Michael R. P. Ragazzon via Flickr /Creative Commons