Public suicide attempt averted

At 10:10 a.m. Feb. 22, Marion police, Marion EMS, and county sheriff’s deputies investigated a report of a man who was “cutting his wrists at the parking lot in front of Carlsons’ Grocery Store,” according to radio transmissions.

Marion police chief Tyler Mermis confirmed the incident was a suicide attempt and an incident report, provided by assistant chief Clinton Jeffrey, noted the man used a knife to cut his wrist.

He said Marion EMS bandaged the man’s arm on scene after which he and Mermis took him into protective custody, transporting him to St. Luke Hospital for evaluation on Thursday.

“It was decided by medical personnel that he was a danger to himself and others,” Mermis said. “He was sent to Osawatomie State Hospital for further psychiatric treatment.”