Howell Police Revive Man After Suicide Attempt

HOWELL, NJ — Howell Township police officers revived a man who tried to hang himself in a wooded area near Aldrich School last weekend, Howell police said Friday.

Patrolmen Richard Robertiello, Nicholas Austin and Daniel Bozza responded to a report of a missing and possibly suicidal person about 9 p.m. on Oct. 16, Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said.

The man's family had received text messages from the distressed man that led them to believe the man was near Aldrich School and would attempt to commit suicide, Antunez said, so family members went there while they also called police, he said.

At the school, they found the man's car, and it was unoccupied, so Robertiello, Austin and Bozza began searching near the school, surrounding fields and neighboring residential areas, Antunez said, and then searched the woods nearby.

It was dark, making visibility poor and forcing officers to search the wooded area with flashlights, he said. Very quickly, however, Robertiello found the man, who was more than a hundred feet into the woods, Antunez said.

The man, who was unconscious, was hanging from a tree with a rope tied around his neck and his feet a foot off the ground, he said.

Robertiello called for help and Austin and Bozza ran to his location, where Austin and Bozza held the man up to provide slack in the rope and release pressure from his neck while Robertiello cut the rope with a knife, Antunez said.

The officers provided immediate first aid and the man regained consciousness, he said, and the man was taken to the hospital for treatment. Police did not release any information on his identity other than the fact that he is 21.

The man did not suffer any life-threatening injuries, Antunez said, "thanks to the help of caring family members and friends who contacted police and diligent efforts by all officers and police dispatchers involved."

“The quick and decisive actions by our patrol officers as well as the telecommunicators who coordinated the response are directly responsible for saving this young man’s life," Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick said. "Any delay or misstep during that call would have resulted in an opposite and sad ending. Lives would have been entirely changed forever."

"I’m proud of my personnel however, I’m not surprised," Kudrick said. "They are highly competent and professional. We wish this young man and his family all the best in their recovery. We are here if you need us.”

The Howell Police remind families there are resources available to you to assist persons who are experiencing emotional pain. Click this link for further information.