Man who caused disturbance at Rexburg Walmart held in mental health facility
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REXBURG — The man who prompted the evacuation of Walmart on Wednesday is being treated in a mental heath facility.
Police said the 22-year-old is a Brigham Young University-Idaho student and near graduation. He is from Texas. As no criminal charges have been filed, EastIdahoNews.com is not publishing his name.
Police and the SWAT team evacuated hundreds of shoppers and employees from the store for their safety when the man yelled incoherent statements while wielding a machete and hammer. He wouldn’t speak or respond to officers for nearly two and a half hours.
He was taken into protective custody peacefully around 2:30 p.m. After an evaluation, authorities determined that the man needed mental health treatment.
Police say he was transported to and is currently in care of Portneuf Behavioral Health in Pocatello.
“Our main concern is for the safety of the community and for the safety of this young man,” Rexburg Police Capt. Randy Lewis told EastIdahoNews.com. “We are going make sure he gets the help he needs so he can move on from all this.”
Rexburg Police Chief Shane Turman has said the man made no threats to anyone, verbally or physically.
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