Editor’s note: This story references a Daviess County Sheriff’s Office call that originated as a possible self-harm incident. Owensboro Times ordinarily does not cover, and DCSO seldom releases details about, such cases. In this instance the situation escalated, and deputies’ use of a new de-escalation tool became newsworthy. The initial reason for the response is included for context, as it is essential to understanding the full scope of the incident.
Daviess County Sheriff’s Office deputies recently used a new piece of equipment — the BolaWrap — to safely detain a threatening subject without injury, marking the first successful field deployment of the tool since it was issued earlier this year, according to DCSO officials.
A release from DCSO said the incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on July 9, when deputies responded to a home in eastern Daviess County after a caller reported that a man had made suicidal statements and was intoxicated. The caller also said the man had held a knife to his chest, the release says.
Daviess County Sheriff Brad Youngman said deputies found the man in his driveway and engaged him in a conversation about his mental state and potential treatment options.
“During this discussion the subject made threatening statements towards deputies, and the decision was made to take the subject into custody based on a totality of the circumstances,’ the release says.
Rather than risk a physical confrontation, deputies opted to use the BolaWrap — a non-lethal tool that deploys a Kevlar tether around a person’s legs or arms to temporarily restrict movement. The device helped subdue the man without pain or injury, and deputies were able to handcuff him without resistance, the release says. Body cam footage viewed by Owensboro Times matches the details DCSO shared about how the incident unfolded.
Officials said the man was transported to Owensboro Health Regional Hospital for a mental health evaluation. No charges were filed due to the nature of the call.
Youngman said the incident illustrates exactly why the department invested in the technology.
“This was a textbook example of not only how to utilize this device but also as to why we obtained them last year,” Youngman said. “There is an ongoing nationwide appetite for law enforcement agencies to work on de-escalation techniques, and this type of technology greatly assists in that endeavor.”
The BolaWrap, which uses sound, light, and tactile sensation to disrupt and delay escalation, was issued to all DCSO patrol deputies in spring 2025 following training. Unlike traditional compliance tools that rely on pain, the BolaWrap is designed to reduce movement without harm.
“Mental health complaints such as this are very common among the types of calls we respond to,” Youngman said. “Usually we are able to handle the call without any difficulty, but occasionally we do have to use minimal force to gain compliance. This is done out of a concern for public safety and only if there is probable cause to detain the person.”
He added that all DCSO deputies are certified in crisis intervention and that their training is essential in safely handling situations involving mental health.
“Coupled with the BolaWrap, the idea is to help people who are experiencing a crisis without hurting them or getting hurt,” Youngman said.
