MONROE, N.C. — The Monroe Police Department responded to a mental health crisis involving an individual with special needs on Friday evening, prompting a significant law enforcement presence on Secrest Shortcut Road, police said.
Around 8:20 p.m., officers received a call about an individual experiencing suicidal ideations. When officers arrived, officials said the person fled into a nearby wooded area, prompting concerns over their safety.
Officers initiated an extensive search operation, including the deployment of K-9 units and unmanned aerial drone technology, to expedite the safe location of the person.
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The search lasted nearly 3 hours, with officers canvassing the wooded area, officials said. Authorities eventually located the individual near the Walmart property, about a mile and a half from where they had fled.
Upon locating the person, they were transported to a local hospital for medical and mental health care, police said.
Monroe Police said Monroe Fire and the Union County Sheriff’s Office played critical roles in the person’s successful location.
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