Recordpub.com - Ravenna standoff was 'blown out of proportion' Wife: Jail not right place for husband

By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
The wife of a Ravenna man who is accused of inducing panic during a nearly three-hour standoff in Ravenna Tuesday says police blew her husband's call for help out of proportion.
Aaron McHenry appeared for arraignment via video from the Portage County jail on Wednesday.
Portage County Municipal Court Judge Barbara Watson set his bond at $25,000. The pre-trial was set for Aug. 22.
The standoff began when police received a call around 4 p.m. Tuesday about a man threatening suicide at the Woodgate Apartments, located off North Freedom Street on Woodgate Boulevard.
Just before 7 p.m., McHenry, 35, surrendered to members of law enforcement without incident.
His wife, Kristin McHenry, said Wednesday she isn't sure if jail is the right place for her husband to be, adding that he needs professional mental help.
"(Law enforcement officials) blew it out of proportion big time," she said. "I understand they have to do what they have to. I think they went about it all wrong."
Aaron McHenry called a mental health hotline, she said, and when they found out he had a gun, police showed up at their home.
"This is the first time he called for help, and this is what he got," she said. "He has been a little down in the dumps lately. We have been having some financial trouble."
More than 20 members of the Metro SWAT Unit responded with officers from the Portage County Sheriff's Office and Ravenna, Copley, Springfield, Norton, Brimfield and Richfield police departments.
Ravenna Police Chief Randall McCoy said that all the members of the negotiating team have received training with this type of situation, and this situation was handled correctly.
"If he had come out and talked with us, he probably would not have been arrested," he said. "We would have taken him to the hospital. He refused to talk with us, and there were weapons involved. That's when it becomes a tactical situation with the SWAT team."
McCoy said he was pleased the situation was resolved peacefully.
"I don't really know what set all this off," he said. "Obviously, there are issues, but fortunately he surrendered and we hope he'll get all the help he needs."
Kristin McHenry said she believes the SWAT team only escalated the situation, adding paranoia to her husband's state of mind.
"They are the ones who induced the panic, not him," she said. "He's had problems, but I knew he wouldn't kill himself, or hurt anybody else. It was a man who needed help, and when he called for it, they sent the SWAT team."

69.	Posted by AndySwainey August 30, 2008
	List @$$hole, the next time I get into an accident I'll call OnStar. I run two miles every day and I have no respect for fat police officers that are paid with my tax dollars that wouldn't be able to run down a rapist, a burglar, or a murderer. I'm going to assume your an overweight pig yourself or you have a personal interest in one way or another with law enforcement. I'll out- run you any day, any time, any where. I work hard for my income and I expect the BEST when I'm forced to pay through TAX DOLLARS for PUBLIC SERVICE. WISE ONE - I always hear that no two traffic stops are the same. Well if that's true, than no two situations are the same. SO, if I do need the Police then I expect them to do their job accordingly and I will respect that if they do so. They chose that profession so it's their responsiblity to uphold the law, no matter what and in any situation. Also a percentage of my state tax dollars support the Ohio State Patrol. They have PHYSICAL FITNESS REQUIREMENTS and if they do not meet them then they are suspended. No offense to them, but most all they do is chase tail lights yet they have the most stringent and disciplinary expectations of any PUBLIC law enforement agency in the U.S. If some pedophile just kidnapped my child then the city cops better be able to get out of the car without getting their gut stuck on the steering wheel. So.....go excercise!!!

68.	Posted by Wise One August 29, 2008
	By th way AndySwainey your right there are some overweight plice officers. You know what though your probably some fat A$$ anyway so what's it mater? Posted by AndySwainey August 19, 2008 Hey Wise one or actually Dumb One. I'm aware of the physical fitness standard mandated by the P.D., but THAT EXCLUDES overweight and physically unfit officers that are already on the force you idiot. And you know what else, I Don't eat doughnuts. Any citizen in this community can tell when a police officer is overweight so don't try and post that you pigs are physically fit!

67.	Posted by Wise One August 29, 2008
	Well AndySwainey one thing I see here that is real clear is that you I presume are an adult, with no respect for authority as you said. But next time you get into a car accident who you going call? (God forbid that would actually happen but it's an example) And as tellnitlikeitis said police officer's do go through CIT ( Crisis Intervention Training) and learn how to handle situations with mentally ill. In this case they did a wonderful job and the suicide man lived. I know you can have an opinion but I feel and as posted here many people think you should just shut up. Next time you need the police think of the mean things you say about them and when they arrive you should appoligize.

63.	Posted by tellnitlikeitis August 20, 2008
	ok shari, not sure which article you read "Ravenna Police Chief Randy McCoy said the man had barricaded himself inside the bathroom armed." armed means that he had a gun. Copied and pasted directly from the article about the standoff. So now I still think you should smack yourself in the head. and whiteninjatiger, there where not seven police departments there. Metro Swat is made up of members from seven police departments. much as the Portage County Dive Team is made up of members from fd's in Portage County, but yet when somebody drowns or is in danger it is not overkill to have the dive team there, and you don't say "wow there where 8 fire departments there. Andy, you mentioned ignorant people that can't use grammar "I'm allowed to post me opinion" who are we...Popeye And Shari your last comment...thank you...now your really showing your intelligence. now we know what were up against.

62.	Posted by ShariHarshNolder August 20, 2008
	cindywalsh Absolutely! All mentally ill people, mentally handicapped people, legless people, and people who cannot speak should be held accountable for their actions! If that legless man can't get across the street fast enough and causes people to wreck, we should all just run him over! Actually, we should call the police on the legless man so they can shove him from behind while shouting, "Start Walking"!@!!@#$$%$% Jeeze, aren't we just tired of these people!!