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Suicidal man surrenders after two-and-a-half hour standoff in FD

Resolution follows late night negotiation effort by Hedlund

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Sgt. Dennis Quinn, of the Fort Dodge Police Department, prepares to enter a home at 1130 S 19th St. late Wednesday night after a man barricaded himself inside the residence. After a two-and-a-half hour standoff, police were able to talk the man out of the house. He was transported to UnityPoint Health - Trinity Regional Medical Center for an evaluation.

A standoff that lasted two-and-half hours Wednesday night ended peacefully after Fort Dodge police officers convinced a suicidal man to surrender.

Officers were called to 1130 S 19th St. at 9:07 p.m. for a man who had an active arrest warrant for absence from custody, according to Sgt. Dennis Quinn, of the Fort Dodge Police Department.

When the man saw officers arrive at his home, he locked himself in the house and barricaded himself in the bathroom, Quinn said.

At that time, the man told police he was armed and suicidal, according to Quinn.

Officers secured the house and additional resources were called to the scene.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson Larry Hedlund, a detective with the Fort Dodge Police Department, left, looks on as officers escort a man to a police crusier late Wednesday night. The man barricaded himself in his house for about two-and-a-half hours, while officers negotiated with him, according to Sgt. Dennis Quinn, of the Fort Dodge Police Department. The man claimed he had a gun and said he was suicidal, Quinn said. Hedlund along with other officers were able to bring a peaceful end to the situation, Quinn said.

Larry Hedlund, a Fort Dodge police detective, arrived to talk with the man.

Hedlund was used as an expert negotiator, Quinn said.

Hedlund was credited for talking another man out of a suicide attempt on April 22. That individual had threatened to jump off the Union Pacific Railroad High Bridge over the Des Moines River.

At about 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, officers emerged from the house with the man in handcuffs.

He was transported to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center for an evaluation.

The man faces no additional charges, Quinn said.

The man’s name was not released.

No one was injured during the standoff and no gun was found in the man’s possession.

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