SWAT call in Red Bank Ends

Red Bank, TN (WDEF) Hamilton County Deputies and the SWAT team force a mentally ill man from his home Thursday evening.

That’s after he became aggressive during a well-being check.

But the man’s father says law enforcement shouldn’t have been involved at all with his son.

His father Robert Rentzell says, "Bring that f*** truck down here I want to talk to my son."

It took police and a SWAT team more than two hours to get Robert Rentzell’s 47-year-old mentally ill son
Stephen Lindsey Rentzell to come out of his home.

Reporter Caitlyn Jones asks, "Is this the right way to treat mentally ill people with blue lights and guns?" Robert responds, "Frankly, hell no."

Hamilton County officials say Red Bank Police were trying to commit Rentzell to a mental health facility.

Sheriff’s Department PIO Janice Atkinson says, "The mental health official spoke with Mr. Rentzell on the phone and obtained enough information that committal papers were signed for him. That’s when they notified Red Bank Police Department."

And that didn’t go over well.

Atkinson says, "It just kind of accelerated. He became very agitative and combative and somewhat violent."

That’s when he barricaded himself inside his house.

The father says they don’t believe in pharmaceuticals medication and want to take a more holistic approach to treat his condition.

Robert says, "My manic depressive son does not want to go down and take his medication, and he doesn’t want anyone coming in there and enforcing him to take them."

Law enforcement officials are often the ones called during a mental health crisis.

Atkinson says, "Our officers are trained today to deal with people who have mental issues. It’s a week long intensive training on how to deal with people or someone who might be having issues, mental issues."

Rentzell’s dad said HE should have been able to help talk his son out of the home.

He says, "They won’t let me go back and talk to my son. They won’t even let me go give my son my mobile cell, so I can communicate with him."

Rentzell eventually walked out, handcuffed, and into the ambulance.

Robert asks, "What kind of shape’s my boy in?" An officer responds, "He’s fine he’s just cut up a bit. There’s some glass down there, and he got little cuts on him about like I do. He’s fine."

Physically fine, but his mental status will have to be evaluated.