SPO McAdam was dispatched to perform a welfare check on a person who was possibly suicidal. The concerned party was the person’s manager and did not have a current address, as they had recently moved.
The manager was able to provide a detailed description of the person’s vehicle, including window stickers. While McAdam made repeated attempts to call the person, the manager worked to gather more information about where the person lived, from a co-worker who had helped them move.
Eventually the manager got an approximate location of the apartment complex, but no apartment number. McAdam drove through several complexes in the area and found a vehicle matching the description, parked in a numbered stall.
McAdam was joined by SPO Araujo and the two proceeded to the apartment with the number matching the parking stall. After banging on the door several times, with no response, Araujo placed his ear against the door while McAdam called the person’s phone. Araujo heard the phone ring, increasing concerns. The officers knocked louder and called out the person’s name. With no response, and no on-site key holder, the officers got creative.
McAdam pulled his patrol car up to the side of the building, where he used the push bumper to climb onto the apartment’s balcony. Luckily, the door was unlocked. McAdam opened the door a few inches and announced he was a police officer, when he heard a groggy groan.
McAdam saw the person laying on the floor and entered the residence. He opened the front door for Araujo to enter. Araujo performed a protective sweep of the residence and called for an ambulance, while McAdam tended to the person. McAdam found the person semi-alert with labored breathing and speech. The person said they had taken several pills and did not want to wake up. McAdam kept the person talking as they waited for a crew from Great Falls Emergency Services to arrive.
The person was transported to Benefis Health System Emergency Department, where McAdam relayed everything to the doctor, then returned to patrol duty.
Suicide is never the answer. There are people who care about you, we care about you. To speak to a counselor, call or text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/
