Police Pull Suicidal Man from Bridge

Charleston Police reportedly pulled a suicidal man to safety this weekend after he threatened to jump off the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Here's how police describe the incident in a news release sent out this morning:

On Saturday a North Charleston man climbed over the railing of the Ravenel Bridge. Desperate and distressed he was ready to jump to his death.

However, thanks to the compassionate intervention of Charleston Police Officers Michael Calore and Jason Shepherd, his life was saved. 

Officers Calore and Shepherd were on patrol about 12:30 a.m. when they were dispatched to the Ravenel Bridge in reference to a man threatening to jump. They arrived on scene and found a vehicle parked by the bridge’s divider, in between the two diamonds of the bridge. Its engine was still running and its emergency lights were on.

Officer Shepherd then looked over to the walking path of the bridge and saw a man sitting on top of the fence with both legs on the other side of the fence. He carefully approached the man and began talking with him. The man told Officer Shepherd if he came any closer he was going to jump.

Officer Shepherd immediately stopped walking but he continued to talk with the man. The man said he didn’t want to speak with anyone he just wanted to jump. However, Officer Shepherd continued talking with him.

At this time, Officer Calore tried to approach the man’s left side. The man saw Officer Calore and he took both hands off the top of the fence and threatened to jump. Officer Calore stopped about three yards behind him.

Officer Shepherd then asked the man if he wanted a cigarette. The man said yes and the officer brought him one. The man took the cigarette and continued talking to both officers.

The man told the officers that he was an Army veteran and was being treating at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. Officer Shepherd told the man he too is an Army veteran.

During this time, Officer Calore was able to get closer to the man and continued talking with him. Officer Shepherd asked him if he wanted another cigarette and he said no. Officer Calore then told the man that no other officer would come near him.

At that moment, the man looked up and began looking down the bridge’s walkway. That’s when the officers grabbed him and pulled him back over the fence. He was then transported to MUSC.