TOWN OF CORTLANDT – State Police from Cortlandt responded to the Bear Mountain Bridge late Sunday night for a report of a suicidal person attempting to jump off the bridge.
Once on scene, the Troopers observed a man walking up the suspension cable. They immediately established a dialogue with the 21-year-old man who was depressed and having thoughts of suicide. Several times throughout the two-hour conversation, the man began hanging off of the bridge’s suspension cable. Each time, however, the Troopers were able to safely talk him back onto the cables.
A rapport was eventually established and the subject agreed to come down from the cables. He was taken into custody and transported to Phelps Memorial Hospital for a mental health evaluation. His family was notified and responded to the hospital.
State Police were assisted by the New York State Park Police and the NYS Bridge Authority personnel.
This was the second instance in a week of local police persuading a man to not jump from a bridge. The other happened on the bridge over the Delaware River at Port Jervis. A Port Jervis police officer was able to avert a tragedy in that incident.
