Deputies Safely Resolve Suicide by Cop Threat in Stephens County

Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies successfully de-escalated a potentially dangerous situation on Thursday afternoon, safely taking into custody a distressed man who was threatening suicide and claimed he would commit “suicide by cop” if law enforcement responded.

On April 17, 2025, at approximately 3:38 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a residence on Oak Valley Road near Holly Springs Road following a 911 call reporting suicide threats. Dispatchers informed deputies that the unnamed male individual had a pistol and was threatening to kill himself, also stating his intention of “suicide by cop.”

Upon arrival, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators carefully approached the area and gathered information from family members. They then worked to locate the man, who had left the residence with the firearm before their arrival.

At approximately 5:10 p.m., deputies and investigators found the individual barricaded in a shed near the residence. Additional units were strategically positioned nearby as backup. After nearly three hours of communication attempts, and with the assistance of the man’s friends and family, deputies were able to safely take him into custody. He was subsequently transported to Stephens County Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

Sheriff Rusty Fulbright commended his deputies for their handling of the sensitive situation. “This incident could have had a very different outcome. I want to commend our deputies for recognizing that this individual was experiencing a mental health crisis, and for responding with compassion and professionalism,” said Sheriff Fulbright. “By opening lines of communication and working to de-escalate the situation, they ensured a peaceful resolution where no one was harmed.”

This morning, April 18, deputies transported the man from the hospital to a nearby mental health facility to receive specialized care. Sheriff Fulbright further emphasized the importance of ongoing training for his deputies, stating, “This incident is a great example of why it is important for our deputies to continue to receive training—both in empathetic crisis intervention and in being prepared for the most dangerous and challenging situations they’ll face.”