Apparently planned suicide

A Putnam County sheriff’s deputy prevented a 36-year-old man on a bridge over Route 6 in Brewster from committing suicide, according to police.

At about 12:30 p.m. on Monday (May 27), officers were dispatched by 911 to investigate a report of a man who had parked his car on I-84 and was standing on the edge of the Veterans Memorial Bridge holding a piece of paper. Deputy Sheriff Kevin Osika and Sgt. Thomas Lee found the man with his arms raised, as if praying, police said.

Osika approached the subject cautiously from behind, grabbed him and wrestled him to the pavement, the sheriff’s office said. The man said he wanted to die, and the paper was a suicide note, police said. He was taken to the Putnam Hospital Center for evaluation.

Sgt. Lee reported that Osika “went above and beyond the call of duty, placing his own life at risk of falling off the bridge” while grabbing the man.

If you or someone you know are in crisis or need to talk, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Behind The Story

Type: News

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