Burlington Police use nonlethal force to subdue man in crisis

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Burlington Police subdued a man in crisis on Wednesday using bean bag shotguns.

It happened at the waterfront near Lake Street. Police say the man was having a mental health crisis and pacing around an apartment building at 300 Lake Street. They tried to negotiate with him, but they say he would not engage or cooperate. He had a knife with a 3-inch blade which he used to start cutting himself and then they say he ran toward the police. Officers shot nonlethal bean bags at the man to subdue him

“So, this was the best outcome that we could have hoped for. we had several less lethal options, and that’s what we want to use,” said BPD Lt. Mike Henry.

Police say the man was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance for a mental health evaluation.

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