Suicidal Man With Knives & Molotov Cocktails Arrested After Standoff On Roof
On Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at approximately 11:35 AM the Porter County 911 Center received a call regarding a twenty-year-old male expressing suicidal ideations outside of a residence on the northeast side of the Portage, according to Portage Police.
Upon arrival to the area, it was determined the male had left on a bicycle. The complaint was able to inform officers this male was armed with several knives. Officers began checking the area but were not able to immediately locate the subject. As the search continued a Portage Police Department officer, who is also a certified crisis negotiator, was able to reach the subject on his cellphone and speak with him. The subject divulged that he was now in one of the city parks and was armed with knives and “firebombs”.
As officers began checking the parks it was discovered that a school field trip was underway at Woodland Park. The officers informed the chaperones that there may be a dangerous situation in the area and the students were placed back onto their buses as a safety precaution. Once Woodland Park was cleared the students on the field trip were allowed to return to normal activities.
At approximately this same time another group of officers located the suicidal subject at Olson Memorial Park (6199 Sunrise Street). It was discovered the subject had climbed onto the roof of a pavilion containing several restrooms and a covered picnic area. The subject was observed to have already placed two incendiary devices (commonly referred to as Molotov Cocktails) next to himself on the roof. Officers then witnessed the subject remove two large fixed-blade knives from his backpack and set them down on the roof next to himself. This first group of officers attempted to deescalate the situation and negotiate with the subject to gain his compliance, but those efforts were not successful as the subject repeatedly demanded that officers shoot him.
Due to the proximity of Kyle Elementary and Nativity of Our Savior Schools both those facilities were contacted and placed into a “lockout”. No one was allowed into or out of the building but normal learning activities continued inside.
The previously mentioned crisis negotiator also responded to the scene and continued to communicate with the subject for the next fifteen minutes. During this time, the subject moved over to a roof vent, lit one of the incendiary devices, and dropped it down into the building. The subject next moved back toward the knives he had laid out on the roof and an officer fired a less than lethal bean bag round at the subject striking him near the belt line. The less than lethal impact was immediately effective causing the subject to fall to his knees and roll to the edge of the roof where several waiting officers were able to safely bring him to the ground. The subject actively resisted being placed into handcuffs causing one officer to suffer an injury to his wrist.
Portage Fire Department medical personnel and firefighters were already on scene and tended to the subject once he was restrained on a cot. During this time the subject continued to be combative and spit on several officers and PFD medics. Firefighters were able to gain entry to the building and discovered that the incendiary device had become stuck in the roof vent but extinguished itself without causing damage.
The subject has been identified as Noah Gibson, twenty years of age of Portage. Mr. Gibson was transported to the hospital for medical evaluation prior to being transported to the Porter County Jail. Upon conferring with Porter County Prosecutor’s Office, the following charges are being sought.
• Arson Level 4 Felony
• Criminal Mischief Level 6 Felony
• Resisting Arrest Resulting in Bodily Injury Level 6 Felony
• Resisting Arrest While Armed with Deadly Weapon Level 6 Felony
• Battery to a Public Safety Official by Bodily Waste Level 6 felony
