Atlantic City Cops Pull Suicidal Man From Parking Garage Ledge

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Atlantic City police pulled a suicidal man off the ledge of a parking garage Wednesday night. Officers rushed in and grabbed the man when they believed he was going to jump.

Officials took him to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's City Division for an evaluation.

Pleasantville police alerted Atlantic City PD at 8:43 p.m. Wednesday about a suicidal man in Atlantic City threatening to jump from a bridge. Officer Eric Knuttel, a member of Atlantic City PD's Crisis Negotiation Team, found the man sitting on the ledge at the top of the Claridge parking garage a half hour later.

Knuttel tried to talk the distraught man off the ledge. The man was also on a FaceTime call. After interacting for 10 minutes, the man became "extremely agitated," police said. He stood up, walked toward the ledge and yelled out.

Knuttel believed he was about to jump, so he grabbed the man by the leg. Officers rushed in to prevent both from falling off the ledge.

“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," said interim Officer-In-Charge James Sarkos. "Their actions are indicative of the work routinely done by members of this police department."

Sgt. John Waddell and Officers Matthew Stollenwerk, Randy Rodriguez-Marte, Irwin Sanchez and Kyle Fauvell assisted with the rescue.

For anyone who needs assistance or knows someone who does, Atlantic City PD recommends calling the the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or texting TALK to 741741.

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