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Published on Tuesday, October 11, 2005
in the St. Petersburg Times
Police thwart suicide attempt
A man exited a taxi on the Sunshine Skyway bridge and threatened to jump.
ST. PETERSBURG - Sunshine Skyway bridge traffic was stymied for about 10 minutes Tuesday afternoon as state troopers rescued a man who threatened to jump to his death.
The man asked a taxi to stop on the bridge, got out and went to the southbound side. Florida Highway Patrol trooper Charles Edwards, working a suicide prevention shift, saw the man about 12:45 p.m. and kept him occupied while another trooper, Dan Cole, crept up behind him and tackled him, preventing the suicide attempt.
The man was taken to a local hospital and put in custody under the state's Baker Act. "The guys did a phenomenal job," said FHP spokesman Trooper Larry Coggins, who watched the takedown via video monitor.
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