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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Jackson County deputy stops suicidal man who was stabbing himself ... Man threatened to detonate bomb during arrest ... Jackson County woman faces animal neglect charges ... Jackson County deputy stops suicidal man who was stabbing himself ... Man threatened to detonate bomb during arrest ... Jackson County woman faces animal neglect charges ... SUICIDAL MAN Jackson County deputy stops suicidal man who was stabbing himself Man hit with non-lethal beanbag round Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 23, 2015 at 6:46 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 23, 2015 at 6:46 PM » Social News A quick-thinking Jackson County Sheriff's Department deputy shot a beanbag round at a suicidal Gold Hill man who was stabbing himself, causing the man to drop the knife. The man was then rushed to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center for medical and psychiatric treatment. "It was a really good job on our deputy's part," said sheriff's Capt. Nathan Sickler. "It certainly could have gone another way real quickly. We're very glad it didn't." The incident unfolded on Wednesday when deputies were dispatched to a Gold Hill home for a report of a suicidal man. When deputies arrived, the man had left the home, prompting them to begin a search in town. The man was spotted walking on Second Avenue near Ray's Food Place and then got into a vehicle, where he was approached by Deputy Ben Weaver, officials said. The man grabbed a knife, began cutting himself and got out of the vehicle still carrying the knife. Weaver gave numerous verbal commands for the man to drop the knife. The deputy was able to position himself at a distance from the man behind his patrol car and begin negotiating with him, Sickler said. "The deputy was able to get himself in a safer situation that allowed him to slow down the situation," Sickler said. Weaver got the man into a semi-cooperative state, but then the man began to try and stab himself in the stomach and chest, officials said. Weaver was able to shoot the suicidal man with a non-lethal beanbag round in the lower leg, which caused him to drop the knife. The man was then taken into custody, officials said. Incidents involving people in mental crisis can quickly turn deadly. On three separate occasions over the past year, armed men suffering mental health crises have been killed in shootouts with law enforcement in Jackson County. Sickler said if the knife-wielding man had run at Weaver and tried to stab him, the deputy might have had to resort to his firearm. "The deputy did a good job and we're happy he didn't get hurt and the individual could be taken to the hospital," Sickler said. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous .   By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 23, 2015 at 6:46 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501