Apprehended Gunman Under Psychological Evaluation: Novi Police

(Updated) NOVI, MI — A 20-year-old man has been taken to an area hospital for a psychological evaluation following a nearly three-hour standoff with Novi Police earlier today. Public Safety Director David Molloy said the man, who was armed with a handgun, threatened to take his own life when officers initially approached him shortly after 10 a.m. this morning.

Over the course of about two hours, police negotiators were able to coax the 20-year-old out of an Olde Orchard Condominium unit. Molloy said the man did slightly resist being taken into custody, but officers were able to subdue him without any injuries.

“Our goal is always to resolve these kinds of situations peacefully,” he said. “I’m so proud of our negotiators and officers. They did an outstanding job.”

Novi Police are not releasing the name of the man. Molloy said he’s unsure if any charges will be filed.

“That’s the least of our concerns at this point,” he added. “At the end of the day, we hope this young man gets the mental health care he needs.”

Novi Police received a call at 9:48 a.m. from a family member of the man and responded to the scene in the 24000 block of Olde Orchard. Within minutes, Molloy said, the department’s crisis response team arrived at the condominium, which sits just west of Haggerty and 10 Mile roads.

When officers spotted the man with a “gun pointed at his head,” they immediately retreated, established a perimeter and evacuated the area, he said. “It was for his safety as well as the residents,” Molloy commented.

Officers then made contact with the man by phone, but he initially hung up on them several times, Molloy said. Over the course of about two hours, negotiators won his trust and the situation resolved.

Approximately 20-25 officers worked the incident, Molloy said. Some came from West Bloomfield Township, with whom Novi has a mutual aid agreement.

Molloy said the man did not make any demands during the negotiation but did threaten to harm himself several times. He said the department had not had any contact with the 20-year-old prior to the standoff.

Photo by Scott Daniel