Police Rescue Suicidal Man from Newburgh-Beacon Bridge

A distraught 29-year-old man threatened to jump off the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Monday night but was talked down by members of the state police Crisis Intervention Team.

Police said at 9 p.m. Feb. 29 the man was clinging to the outermost railing on the south side of the bridge at the center span, threatening to jump.

Town of Newburgh officers and state troopers initially made contact with the distraught individual until the Troop F Crisis Intervention Team responded and assumed the negotiations, police said.

The man was despondent over recent marital and personal issues. After two and a half hours of conversation, he climbed back onto the pedestrian walkway and was taken into custody. The Town of Newburgh Police Department took him to the Orange County Regional Medical Center for an evaluation.

Assisting at the scene: Town of Newburgh Police Department, New York State Police - Troop F Uniform and BCI, Troop F Crisis Intervention Team, NYSP Special Operations Response Team, NYSP Aviation Unit, and the City of Newburgh Fire Department (Rescue Boat Division).

Two lanes of the eastbound bridge were closed during the incident.