An early-afternoon call to police concerning a suspicious person led to Bridgeport Police Negotiator Mike Hammond dealing with a potential jumper and three members of law enforcement ultimately pulling an 18-year-old male to safety. Upon arriving at the scene, police found a male subject situate on the east side of the Zeke Trupo Bridge on Lodgeville Road, just above the railroad tracks; sitting on top of the railing of the bridge; his feet hanging over.

 

“He was contemplating doing some harm to himself. Officer Hammond got there, as well as some other officers who stopped traffic,” said Deputy Police Chief Randy Hartley. “Officer Hammond had some dialogue with him – attempting to talk him off the railing. At that point, the male subject, who was still agitated, stopped dialogue with Officer Hammond and officers standing by saw him move his hands from behind the rail to in front of the rail – so as to push off and he started to lean forward. At that point, the officers made the decision to attempt to grab him. They successfully pulled him back over the bridge onto the concrete.”

Bridgeport Fire and Emergency Services had already been summoned, so personnel were on scene to transport the subject to United Hospital Center where he was treated for minor abrasions and underwent psychiatric evaluation.

 

The officers who pulled the subject from the railing were Bridgeport Police Officer L.D. Jansen, Department of Natural Resources Officer Ben Riley and Bridgeport Police Detective Troy Rutherford.

 

The call was made to 911 at 1:10 p.m. The entire incident lasted 17 minutes. The distance from the bridge to the ground below is about 100 feet. Shortly after the incident, a train moved through, Hartley said.

 

His officers and all involved did a good job today, he said.

 

The name of the 18-year-old, who is believed to be a local resident, has not been released.