Law enforcement safely intervenes in suicide attempt
Law enforcement agencies called to the Edison Bridge Wednesday morning after a distraught man threatened to jump convinced the individual to come off the ledge, saving his life.
The Fort Myers Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call at 3:14 a.m. Officers and deputies made contact with the man, who was standing on the waterside of the ledge holding onto a light post. In the meantime, marine units from the Fort Myers Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staged nearby in the water. Negotiators with FMPD’s Critical Incident Response Team responded and, after more than two hours of face-to-face negotiations they were able to convince the man to surrender to law enforcement without incident.
The man told them he was upset over recent events in his personal life and wanted to end his life by jumping off the bridge. He was transported to Lee Mental Health Center. No charges have been filed.
Source: Fort Myers Police Department