NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 51-year-old Auburn Avenue man was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for a mental evaluation last night after refusing to put down a rifle while on his porch and at one point putting the barrel end into his own mouth, threatening suicide and asking cops to shoot him, New Smyrna Beach police said.
The SWAT team was called in and negotiators were called out after the gunman, identified as Duane Henry Grove refused to put the rifle down after police responded to an 8:36 p.m. 911 call of a male threatening to commit suicide.
"Mr. Grove refused to put the rifle down, asked the officer to shoot him, and also put the barrel of the rifle in his mouth," New Smyrna Beach police Sgt. Valerie Joyce wrote in her report.
But while awaiting the arrival of a negotiator, officers were able to talk Grove into putting the rifle down and to walk out to them, Joyce said.
Grove was then taken into custody and transported to Halifax Medical Center's psychiatric ward for a mental evaluation, under provisions of Florida's Baker Act, which allows the authorities to commit someone under such circumstances to be evaluated for up to 72 hours before being released, if appropriate.
Joyce did not indicate what might have prompted the man to threaten suicide with the gun, which wa recovered and described as a long rifle.