Distraught man with knife in Roslindale supermarket demands cop shoot him; he doesn't

Boston Police report a detail officer managed to convince a man who walked into the Stop & Shop on American Legion Highway in Roslindale with a knife last night to drop the weapon and let EMTs take him to a local hospital.

Police say the incident began shortly before 8 p.m. when somebody called 911 with a report of a man with a knife making threats on Canterbury Street near Stella Road, in the area of American Legion Highway. Responding officers didn't find him, but a short while later, a detail cop at the Stop & Shop did:

The officer observed a silver knife in the man's hand and could clearly see that he appeared to be distraught. The detail officer approached the male and began to speak with him in an attempt to deescalate the situation as additional units arrived and began to secure the area while directing other civilians out of harm's way. As the officer continued to speak to the man, he began to repeatedly scream, "Just shoot me…..Go ahead, just shoot me……" to which the officer calmly replied numerous times, "We aren't going to shoot you - we just want to get you some help." On several occasions, the man raised the knife up to his neck or pointed directly into his stomach while threatening to hurt himself and others. The officer maintained distance and continued talking the man down from his frenzied state until he finally agreed to drop the weapon and turn himself over to Boston EMS who were now on scene. The subject was then secured and transported to an area hospital for treatment and evaluation