How a Mental Health Crisis Forced a Temporary Closure of I-95 in West Palm Beach: What You Need to Know

Police in West Palm Beach had a busy morning on Wednesday due to a mental health crisis that halted traffic on I-95. Around 10:45 a.m., multiple 911 calls came in about a person walking dangerously close to the southbound I-95 on-ramp from Okeechobee Boulevard. This individual was reportedly wandering in and out of traffic, causing great concern among drivers.

To make sure everyone was safe, the West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD), along with the Florida Highway Patrol, decided to close the traffic below the ramp temporarily. Eyewitness videos showed the situation where the individual was located on the other side of a wall, with police nearby.

Officer John Bangs was the first to arrive on the scene. He is recognized for his training in crisis intervention, having been named the Crisis Intervention Officer of the Year by Crisis Intervention Team International in 2021. Officer Bangs quickly found a way to communicate with the individual. Through careful negotiation and support from the Hostage Negotiation Unit, they managed to de-escalate the situation. By 11:50 a.m., the person agreed to surrender to the authorities.

WPBPD later confirmed that the individual was going through a mental health crisis. They were transferred to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Behavioral Health Unit’s Mobile Response Team, which took them to a medical facility for the help they needed.

This incident shines a light on the importance of mental health resources and crisis intervention. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness each year. Such situations emphasize the urgent need for better support systems and training for law enforcement officers in mental health crises.

As conversations around mental health continue to grow on social media, many express gratitude for officers like Bangs who handle these sensitive situations with care. It’s crucial to foster discussions that help reduce stigma and encourage those in need to seek help.



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