Threat locks down Emory Decatur site

A threat from a recently released patient forced a threehour lockdown at Emory Decatur Hospital on Saturday afternoon, according to a new police report released Monday.

The man, identified by police as Ivan Boyd, called 911 as he was leaving the hospital on North Decatur Road and threatened to shoot anyone who approached him. He allegedly told the dispatcher police officers would have to kill him, according to a police report.

Officers arrived at the hospital, formerly known as DeKalb Medical Center, just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Boyd, 42, of Las Vegas, was locked in the back of a landscaping truck when they arrived.

A contractor painting outside the emergency department told Channel 2 Action News he had coaxed Boyd into his box truck when the man started making threats. Boyd allegedly held his hand in his shirt as if he had a weapon.

Lee Farley first spotted Boyd when he stormed out of the emergency department. He allegedly told the contractor he “wanted to die” and “no one wants to help me,” Channel 2 reported. He also claimed people were after him.

Farley offered to give the man a ride in his truck in order to seek help elsewhere.

“Mr. Farley advised that he told Mr. Boyd that he had to hand over his firearm in order to get inside of his truck,” police said in the report.

Boyd never had a gun, according to police.

Responding officers initially tried to communicate with Boyd in the back of the box truck using a loudspeaker, but police said the man was unresponsive. Eventually, SWAT was called.

Boyd surrendered to police about 6:30 p.m., and the lockdown was lifted. He was taken to be medically evaluated.

It is not known if Boyd will face criminal charges.

CHANNEL 2 ACTION NEWS Emory Decatur Hospital, formerly known as DeKalb Medical Center, was on lockdown for three hours Saturday while police negotiated with a patient who barricaded himself in a contractor’s truck. The man allegedly told a dispatcher police would have to kill him.