Deputies and Crisis Negotiators Safely Resolve Mental Health Crisis Outside Hennepin Healthcare

Minneapolis — A tense mental health crisis unfolded Thursday morning outside Hennepin Healthcare, where deputies and crisis negotiators worked for hours to safely intervene and ensure a person in distress received medical care.

According to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies assigned to the hospital responded to reports of a person in crisis inside a vehicle that was blocking traffic near the facility. When deputies approached, they observed the individual actively harming themself by cutting their head with multiple knives.

Crisis negotiators with the sheriff’s office arrived within minutes and began speaking with the individual in an effort to de-escalate the situation and persuade them to put down the weapons and accept help.

The incident prompted authorities to close nearby streets, including Chicago Avenue and 6th Street, to secure the area. At one point, part of the hospital’s emergency room was also placed on lockdown as a precaution while the situation unfolded.

For approximately two hours, negotiators maintained communication with the individual, who appeared to respond to their efforts to encourage them to exit the vehicle and seek assistance.

However, officials said the situation escalated suddenly when the person began cutting their own throat. Deputies then deployed less-lethal munitions to break the vehicle’s windows, allowing them to quickly gain access and intervene to prevent further injury.

The individual was taken into the hospital and is currently receiving medical care.

During the response, a crowd of roughly 20 to 30 people gathered nearby. Authorities said some members of the crowd shouted obscenities toward deputies, increasing tensions despite officers explaining the circumstances of the situation.

Officials noted that in incidents involving individuals experiencing an active mental health crisis, even minor disturbances can heighten the risk and complicate efforts to safely de-escalate the situation.

Authorities also acknowledged that emotions remain heightened in the community following Operation Metro Surge, but emphasized that law enforcement officers continue to respond to challenging situations that require patience, coordination, and care.

The sheriff’s office expressed appreciation for the agencies that assisted at the scene, including the Minneapolis Police Department, Minneapolis Behavioral Crisis Team, and Hennepin Healthcare paramedics for all of their work bringing this incident to a safe ending and providing on scene support and medical aid. HCSO crisis negotiators are highly trained professionals skilled in communicating with people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. They also respond to barricaded subjects, hostage situations, and other high-risk incidents involving weapons, working patiently and strategically to bring situations to a safe resolution.