Photo by Amber McIver-Traywick: Larimer County Sheriff’s Office and Regional SWAT team responding to a distraught adult male making threats to harm himself in the Prairie Star subdivision in Berthoud on Thursday, Aug. 30.

Special to the Surveyor

On August 30, 2018, at approximately 11:23 a.m., the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a distraught adult male making threats of self-harm inside a home in the 2800 block of Big Thunder Road in Berthoud. Deputies responded, secured the immediate area, and began trying to communicate with the man. As a precaution, additional personnel responded including members of the Larimer County Regional SWAT team, Berthoud Fire Protection District, and Thompson Valley EMS.

An Everbridge emergency notification was sent to 84 contacts (not individual homes) in the immediate area to alert them of the law enforcement activity. They were asked to shelter in place or leave the area until the incident was resolved. As the incident continued into the late afternoon, the American Red Cross of Northern Colorado opened an evacuation center at the Berthoud Community Center in case those residents who chose to leave the area needed assistance. Additionally, children being bused home from school to the area were held at their schools for parent pickup

Deputies spoke to the man via telephone for several hours and were able to safely take him into protective custody at approximately 5:15 p.m. He was the only person inside the home. About 15 minutes later, deputies began allowing residents to return to their homes. A follow up Everbridge emergency notification was sent to alert those in the immediate area that the incident was resolved and it was safe for them to resume their normal activities.