Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
MILLCREEK — Police aren't sure if mental illness played a role in the 4-hour standoff that caused 40 homes in Millcreek to be evacuated Sunday. But they took that possibility into consideration at the scene, and it influenced how they interacted with suspect David Barker.
Neighbors told KSL that David Charles Baker behaved erratically at times. At least one family thought their lives were in danger, which is what led to the stand-off at Baker's home. But not knowing a suspect's exact mental status makes diffusing the situation that much more difficult.
"Shotgun. Handgun. We found ammunition for both of those weapons," said Unified Police Det. Levi Hughes. "We found cocaine. We found marijuana. Everything was in place for this to be more than it was."
- Worrisome drop in grades or job performance;
- New trouble thinking clearly or concentrating;
- Suspiciousness/uneasiness with others;
- Decline in self-care or personal hygiene;
- Spending a lot more time alone than usual;
- Increased sensitivity to sights or sounds;
- Mistaking noises for voices;
- Unusual or overly intense new ideas; and Strange new feelings or having no feelings at all.
Hughes says police have to distinguish between someone who has drug-induced psychosis and someone who is mentally ill. Someone overly intoxicated may only be booked into jail for investigation of public drunkenness, among other possible charges. However, if the person police are confronting is having a mental health episode, then they take a different approach.
"We call medical to come out and do an evaluation and they can take them to a hospital," Hughes said. "A hospital can then make a determination if they need to be hospitalized."
Police departments around the state are trained in Crisis Intervention. CITUtah.com a website for crisis interventions teams, says that officers are trained in tactics to effectively deal with a situation involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis.
Hughes says a mental health crisis wasn't the case with David Charles Baker. He believes Baker was likely under the influence of a narcotic substance during the 4-hour stand-off with police.
Related:
Old friend of Millcreek standoff suspect says she feared for life
Details are slowly coming together about the man accused in a wild standoff in Millcreek. Before the standoff, he threatened a long-time friend at her home, a friend that is now speaking out."He told us ‘My yard is fortified.' He ended up barricading all the doors to his home," Hughes said. He set up trip wires in his yard. "He set up packages with what we believed to be explosive devices."
Psychiatrist Renee Valles says if someone is having a mental health crisis — drug-induced or otherwise — those around the afflicted person should take threats and comments seriously.
"The thing that people should look for are red flags," Valles said. "So if there's any sudden change in people's behaviors, if there's any question regarding safety, the safety of others or the safety of the individuals themselves. People have a good sense with their gut feeling."
