UL police performed welfare check hours before student's suicide. Here are the details.

Apr. 15—Editor's note: If you or someone you know is struggling, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by phone or text at 988.

Less than 36 hours before a University of Louisiana at Lafayette student died by suicide on campus, university police performed a welfare check after someone reported a concerning social media post.

Officers found Basil Brown hiding in a closet cabinet with his laptop and a candy cigarette, according to the incident report. Brown told officers he wasn't going to hurt himself and "appeared in good health," so the officers left.

The next evening, Brown died. His friends, other students and some staff have since criticized the university's handling of Brown's death arguing it wasn't transparent following the incident.

ULPD was called at about 8:30 a.m.April 6 to complete a welfare check on Basil Brown. A friend told dispatchers Brown posted on the social media app Snapchat that he wanted to die by suicide. Because Snapchat videos and photos are meant to disappear after they're sent, the friend said the post was unable to be shared, according to the incident report.

Officers went to the residence hall where Brown lived but could not find him there. They checked a nearby park and later went back to the residence hall. They also called a number associated with Brown multiple times, but the calls went to voicemail.

The officers knocked on Brown's door again, but no one answered. A residence assistant unlocked the door and the officers were able to enter the room.

While searching the room, officers found Brown inside a closet cabinet, according to the report. One officer asked Brown if he heard the officers knocking. Brown was "sitting across the inside bottom of the closet cabinet" with a laptop and a candy cigarette in his hand as though he was smoking it.

Officers told Brown they were conducting a welfare check after a concerned friend called.

"I'm glad my friends are worried about me, but I'm OK," he told officers, according to the report.

He also told officers he did not want to die by suicide. He said he did not need to speak with a counselor and that he had a private mental health counselor whom he regularly met with.

"Brown appeared to be in good health and did not show signs of being suicidal," according to the report.

Officers told Brown if he needed anything, he could call ULPD. Officers referred the welfare concern to UL counselors by phone and email, according to the report.

It was all officers had the power to do, ULPD spokesperson Sgt. Lance Frederick said.

"Louisiana law requires that law enforcement must possess a written order from a physician, psychologist, or coroner to take someone into custody in reference to a mental health evaluation," Frederick said. "Without proof of the social media post, Brown's willingness to cooperate, or a written order, officers were unable to take Brown to a hospital or mental health facility."

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