Atlantic City Police Department
ATLANTIC CITY – Police officers Oct. 14 pulled a distraught, suicidal man from the ledge of a hotel parking garage. Atlantic City Police received information from the Pleasantville Police Department at 8:43 p.m. regarding the man who was threatening to jump from a bridge.
Officers checked areas of the city for the man and were able to obtain a photograph of the man that was sent to his family and determined he was on top of the Claridge parking garage. At 9:09 p.m., Officer Eric Knuttel of the department’s Crisis Negotiation Team located the man sitting on a ledge at the top of the garage. Knuttel engaged him in conversation attempting to talk him off the ledge. The man was also on a Facetime call during this interaction.
After speaking for 10 minutes, the man became extremely agitated, stood up, walked towards the ledge, and yelled out. Knuttel believed that the man was going to jump and ran towards him grabbing on to his leg. Officers rushed in and grabbed the man and Knuttel pulling both of them from the ledge.
Click here to see body camera video of the incident.
The man was transported to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Division for an evaluation.
Knuttel was assisted by Sgt. John Waddell and Officers Matthew Stollenwerk, Randy Rodriguez-Marte, Irwin Sanchez and Kyle Fauvell.
“I am extremely proud of the bravery and compassion shown by Officer Knuttel and the other officers for this man who was in severe emotional distress. Their actions are indicative of the work routinely done by members of this police department,” Interim Officer-in-Charge James Sarkos said. “For years, the Atlantic City Police Department has taken a proactive approach when it comes to the mental health of our residents and visitors by partnering with social service organizations and providing training to our officers.”
For anyone that needs assistance, or knows someone that needs assistance, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741.
