Platteville Police Department Responds To Mental Health Crisis

The Platteville Police Department does not routinely issue press releases on medical cases. Given the circumstances of the case, the need for the public to be informed, and misinformation surrounding this incident, the Platteville Police Department is releasing the following information. The patient will not be identified, as this was a medical call for a patient experiencing a mental health crisis.

On October 10, 2023, at 11:35 p.m. the Platteville Police Department received a call from a resident on East Madison Street for a report of a male harming himself. Upon arrival, officers met with the complainant, who stated a family member was inside of the house, experiencing a mental health crisis, and actively banging his head on counters and appliances in the home. The complainant indicated the male was bleeding. The three officers on scene, who were outside of the residence, heard banging and screaming from inside and requested Southwest EMS to respond to provide medical aid.

While officers were still outside the residence, the patient broke the glass and jumped out of a closed first story window, jumped over two fences, and entered a neighbor’s fenced-in yard. The three officers on scene stood outside of the fence and attempted to locate the patient. After a short period of time, the patient was located nude behind a bush. Officers attempted to dialog with the patient, as it was apparent the patient had injuries which required medical attention. The patient then exited from behind the bush and ran to the neighbor’s back door. The patient used his fist to repeatedly punch a window on a back door to the residence, breaking the window and the door. As the patient was breaking the window, officers were able to scale the fence and entered the backyard. The patient had suffered severe injuries to his arm and hand while punching through the window and collapsed onto a concrete step, landing directly on his back and neck. While the patient was lying on the ground, the officers continued talking with the patient from a distance, explaining they were there to provide medical assistance and needed to approach him. Officers then approached and placed handcuffs on the patient to prevent further injury. Officers then applied two tourniquets to control the heavy bleeding from the patient’s upper arm wound. Officers continued to provide patient care until the arrival of Southwest EMS. Medflight was also immediately requested by officers at the scene. The patient was then transported to Southwest Health Center and air lifted to UW Hospital by Medflight.

The condition of the patient is unknown.

The use of force by officers at the scene was limited to presence, dialogue, and the display of a TASER by multiple officers.

The Platteville Police Department was assisted on the scene by UW-Platteville Police Department, Southwest EMS, and the Platteville Fire Department.