Man allegedly stabs self, forces Walmart closure
A Ponderay Police vehicle sits outside the Walmart Supercenter in the city after law enforcement responded to a report of a man with a knife at the store.
Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER
PONDERAY — An unknown male surrendered peacefully after he allegedly walked into the Ponderay Walmart early Sunday afternoon with a knife and made unspecified threats.
Ponderay Police Corporal Cameron Simeral said the department received a call that the male had come to the store with the knife and made threats.
While there were unverified social media reports that the man stabbed himself, Simeral did not comment other than to say no customers or staff were threatened and that the man is now getting care.
"He told the people he wasn't planning on hurting anybody else," Simeral said of the incident. "We responded and he surrendered peacefully, and now he's getting care."
The corporal said that, to his knowledge, the man never threatened anyone else. No employees or customers were injured during the incident.
The store was evacuated and closed for roughly an hour with Walmart employees stationed at all doors to tell shoppers that the store was closed.
Law enforcement responded to the scene and was able convince the man to surrender peacefully and was taken in for treatment. Simeral said the department was able to contain the man away from customers and resolve the incident peacefully.
Customers in the store said they were asked to leave immediately and escorted from the store. One customer, who would only identify herself as Christina, said she had had an oil change scheduled but when she arrived there was no on around. Inside she said she walked past abandoned baskets and grocery carts left in the aisles by shoppers.
"There was nobody anywhere and as I kept walking through, there was still nobody anywhere," the woman said.
No further details were available, and an official statement is expected to be released Monday.
Simeral said there is no danger to the community.
"Everyone's fine and safe," the corporal said. "The community did a great job following directions and orders and staying safe and not panicking. That was fantastic and helped everything go smoothly."