Police fatality follows mental health warning at Milwaukee church

Gunfire panicked dozens of people on Feb. 12 during the lunch hour at 27th Street and Wisconsin Avenue as Isaiah Stott, 24, opened fire on police, wounding a Milwaukee officer, before police returned fire, killing him.”He continued to share that God had been speaking to him,” Theron Rogers said. Rogers is the owner of Prolific Arms and was acting as a security team member for Evolve Church at 76th Street and Mill Road last week, when he confronted Stott there. That was one day before the shootout with police. “He stated he needed to gain entry to the church because he needed to rid it of the evil and demons inside of it,” Rogers said. He said Stott said he had a gun in his car and wanted to take it inside the church, then put on a mask and removed the plates from his car. Rogers called police. “He stated he was uncomfortable providing me his name due to his belief that the CIA and government was listening in.”Police ultimately didn’t detain Stott, saying he didn’t meet the criteria for an involuntary mental health hold. Michael Lappen, the administrator for the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health division said it is a high standard.”We are suspending someone’s civil liberties. That cannot be done lightly,” Lappen said. Lappen couldn’t comment on the specific situation involving Stott but said Tuesday it’s a difficult call for police. “Yeah, it requires very imminent dangerousness to self or others, so some obvious threat to themselves, perhaps someone suicidal, or to harm another person,” he said.”I think it’s important to note that this is challenging work, the police officers, the clinicians, the folks that are out there providing this work are in a tough position. They make the best decision they can in the moment, with what they see, what they’re presented with,” Lappen said.He and Rogers agree it’s a tough thing to second guess.”There is no perfect answer,” Rogers said. “I think reiterating being careful with the what ifs and hypotheticals because it’ll drive us all crazy.” Milwaukee Alderman Lamont Westmoreland Tuesday issued a statement to WISN 12 News, saying he’d welcome a review of the incident outside Evolve Church. “While I do not have deep knowledge of the specific circumstances surrounding the encounter the day before this incident, I firmly believe that every standard and policy used in the City of Milwaukee should always be reviewed and examined for potential improvements. Ensuring both public safety and proper responses to mental health concerns should always be an ongoing priority,” Westmoreland wrote. Top HeadlinesFight at Franklin strip club leads to criminal chargesCrisis team cleared troubled man hours before Milwaukee police shootout15-year-old identified in Milwaukee car fire homicideMan, 38, in custody for sidewalk execution-style killing of 64-year-old grandfatherWATCH Police release new video in search for missing pregnant Wisconsin teen

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