Madison Police, Regional Response Team Activated Following Incident On Sandlewood Drive

Madison police and the regional response team have been activated following an incident at 96 Sandlewood Drive in Madison.

Madison police received a report around 6:15 p.m. from a family member that a male who lives at 96 Sandlewood was despondent, possibly suicidal and possibly armed.

"We were told no one else was in the house," said Madison Police Spokesman Joe Race. "Our regular patrol arrived on the scene and attempted to make contact unsuccessfully. After that our regional response team was activated."

The regional response team is made up of police officers from Madison, Guilford, and Branford police departments who work as one unit.

After being contacted by police, the despondent male "walked out of the door willingly and voluntarily. No one sustained any injuries," Race said. "He is being taken for evaluation."

Race said, in addition to the patrol officer, two Madison police detectives, six Madison police officers who are part of the response team, and additional members of the response team from Guilford and Branford responded, in addition to the Madison Police Department's K-9 unit, Paco. Madison Police Chief Jack Drumm was among officers responding.

Drumm confirmed that the despondent male had a firearm.

Drumm said police officers initially tried to make contact with the man, but were not able to, around 7 p.m. When Drumm arrived on the scene, he started calling. "He wouldn't pick up the phone and wouldn't pick up the phone. We kept calling and he wouldn't pick up the phone." Finally, when Drumm called again from the scene around 8:35 p.m., the man picked up the phone.

"I told him we were concerned and we wanted him to come out," Drumm said. "We're just relieved it ended well."

Drumm said neighbors in the immediate area were evacuated to about a block away, to the intersection of Sandlewood Drive with Old Farms Road while he was trying to make contact with the man. "They are all back in their homes at this time," he said after the incident was resolved.

Drumm said he appreciated the work of the regional response team, the Madison police officers, the Guilford police officers, the Branford police officers, along with the cooperation of the neighbors, and the work of the Madison Ambulance Association.