3 Officers Injured Stopping Man From Jumping Off Balcony In Marin

SAN RAFAEL, CA – Three San Rafael police officers were injured Wednesday morning during a confrontation with a man who tried to jump from a third-floor apartment balcony, authorities said.

Officers responded around 7:45 a.m. to a report of a man behaving erratically, destroying his Lincoln Avenue apartment and throwing items onto the courtyard and other apartment balconies, San Rafael police Sgt. Raul Aguilar said.

Benjamin Ritter, 32, showed signs of intoxication and climbed onto a neighbor's balcony to avoid the officers, Aguilar said.

"The officers followed and continued to try and engage Ritter, but he remained uncooperative," Aguilar said.

When Ritter jumped onto a balcony railing, an officer grabbed him to prevent him from jumping but Ritter began attacking the officers, Aguilar said.

As the fight escalated, officers used a Taser device to subdue Ritter and handcuffed him. Ritter was taken to Marin General Hospital and later booked into Marin County Jail for battery on a police officer and resisting and obstructing a police officer, Aguilar said.

Three officers were injured during the struggle and taken to a hospital. They were later released, Aguilar said.

By Bay City News Service; Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this repot.

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