Police Save Suicidal Man In Morris Twp

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ — Morris Township police saved an "emotionally disturbed" man from killing himself in the early morning hours on Sunday, Acting Chief Capt. Mark DiCarlo said on Tuesday.

Just before 6 a.m. on Sunday police responded to a man on Monroe Street who was stabbing himself with a broken bottle, DiCarlo said, describing the man as "emotionally disturbed." He had visible lacerations on his body and was stabbing himself in the chest when police arrived, DiCarlo said.

The 27-year-old man was "highly agitated" DiCarlo said, and was saying he could hear voices and wanted to die.

Morris Township Officers O’Hare, Dombrowski, Farrell, Hydock and Gonzalez and Morristown Police Officers Lamperti, Birch, Cerrick, Delossantos, and Briscoe were on the scene, and asked the man to drop the bottle so they could help him.

Over the course of 20 minutes, the man refused officer's offers for help. After Hydock threatened the use of a "less lethal" device that shoots non-penetrating plastic ammunition the man dropped the bottle. (No shots of any kind were fired, DiCarlo said.)

"All officers on the scene were in potential danger of this male directing his violent behavior towards them. I am proud to recognize the officers of both Morristown and Morris Township Police for maintaining their primary responsibility of 'preserving life' and providing much needed mental and medical assistance to the individual...," DiCarlo said.

The man was taken to Morristown Medical Center for treatment and evaluation, DiCarlo said.

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