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."

60.	Posted by whiteninjatiger August 20, 2008
	Everyone is entitled to make their opinion be known in the comments thread. So why is it there is a select few who seem to think they are above all and who are they to judge everyone based on opinions? Some of the post on this one here my grandkids act better and than that, it was overkill periond to have 7 police departments involved! wow, who flips the bill on that one, I mean if one police station is not equipped to deal with something like that then maybe they should resign now. Though as tedious as it may seem mental people need help not thrown away, the handling of 7 police unities could have set the man off, and they have training in this? How about some common sense, most of them just want to say hey I have a problem, who are we or anyone on here to judge by race, creed, religion or sexual prefrance for that matter. That is why this is United Stats of America freedom of choice, speech, or have some become so blind they tend to forget that most important part of all. If anything this comment does bring some form of entertainment to a very boring day in Ravenna, that I must say. Now all you kids place nice and have a great night.

59.	Posted by gucci August 20, 2008
	And there it is again. You are a real nice guy arent you andysw... You have attacked eveyone inappropriately you disagree on this post and every other one you have commented on. Should I gather them all up and post them for you? Did you forget andysw?????? You called some ladies kid a crack addict and tried to belittle her in every concievable way. You are allways calling people stupid, now calling me a pervert, it goes on and on, and on and on........A classic deflection showing insecurity and imaturity on your part. Regarding reading your posts: It gives me a kick to watch you get upset when someone calls you out. It is so easy to make you dance..Bet you are a lonley bitter person.

52.	Posted by tellnitlikeitis August 19, 2008
	Hey shariharshnolder, "He had guns in the house and was not threatening himself or anyone else with them. It was an answer to a standard question asked by the helpline worker". Now do me a favor....smack yourself in the face!! So the first obvious fact is that you did not read the article in the paper. Yes Henry did have a firearm WITH him in the bathroom and YES Henry did threaten to kill HIMSELF. So before you post your obviously uneducated and reckless comments on here maybe you should at the very least read and possibly comprehend the article. And nextly "Frustration mounts on the part of police officers who are dealing with the mentally ill. They are trained to be tough guys and are given "Hours" of training on how to deal with mentally ill people, if they are given any training at all." Well lets clear this up a little too with some facts. OPOTA does require that Police Academies cover "how to deal with mentally ill people". It may not be as much training as mental health workers undergo but they do receive training. Also not sure how your comments pertain to a man who barricades himself in his bathroom with a firearm and refuses to come out or talk to anybody and makes suicidal threats. So had police just walked away and let him do himself in you would be on here b*hing about that, saying we didn't have enough training and it's our fault he killed himself. So either way you left wing liberal nuts never would have been satisfied either way, so at least read the d* article before you get on your soapbox and second guess everyone and their actions.