TOWN OF SOUTHEAST – A Putnam County deputy sheriff is credited with preventing a man from jumping from off the Veterans Memorial Bridge on Interstate 84 on Monday afternoon.
The bridge goes over Route 6 in Town of Southeast.
Deputy Kevin Osika arrived on the scene two minutes after a 911 call came in and found the man with his arms raised, standing on the edge of the bridge. He appeared to be praying, holding a piece of paper and about to jump.
Osika approached the man from behind and grabbed him, wrestling him to the group. Sgt. Thomas Lee arrived just as Osika had handcuffed the 36-year-old man, who told police he wanted to die. He had a suicide note on him.
He was transported to Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel for mental health evaluation.
Following the incident, Sgt. Lee said Deputy Osika “went above and beyond the call of duty, placing his own life at risk of falling off the bridge while wrestling to save the life of this individual.
