VERO BEACH — Two Vero Beach police officers saved a man after he tried to jump off a bridge last Friday, Vero Beach police said.
Police responded shortly before 2 p.m. June 23 to a call of a man possibly attempting to jump off the Alma Lee Loy Bridge on State Road 656, near Indian River Boulevard, a news release said. When officers Richard Chimenti and Kyle Eder arrived at the scene, they saw a man sitting alone on the railing and facing the water on the south side of the bridge.
VBPD OFFICERS SAVE A MAN ATTEMPTING TO JUMP OFF THE 17TH STREET BRIDGEOn June 23rd, at approximately 1:48pm, VBPD Dispatch received a call about a male possibly attempting to jump off the 17th Street (Alma Lee Loy) Bridge. Two officers responded to the bridge and made contact with a male sitting on the railing on the south side of the bridge, facing the water. Ofc. Richard Chimenti was attempting to establish a dialogue with the male, as Ofc. Kyle Eder arrived on scene. At that time, the male leaped forward from the railing in at attempt to jump off the bridge. Ofc. Chimenti reacted swiftly by grabbing the subject's arm as he dangled off the bridge. Ofc. Eder climbed up on the railing and grabbed the male, and together the two officers were able to pull him back over the railing and onto solid ground. The subject was evaluated on scene by EMS and transported to the hospital by our officers for a Baker Act. While the quality of the dash cam video is not the greatest, it shows how quick actions of our officers saved a man's life. Outstanding job, Ofc. Richard Chimenti and Ofc. Kyle Eder! You are our every day heroes!!
Posted by Vero Beach Police Department on Friday, June 23, 2017
Chimenti was trying to talk to the man when the man leaped from the railing, police said. Chimenti quickly grabbed the man’s arm as he dangled off the bridge.
Eder climbed on the railing, grabbed the man and both officers pulled him up to safety, police said. The man was taken to the Indian River Medical Center to be evaluated. No injuries were reported, police spokeswoman Anna Carden said.
It’s unknown if any commuters saw the incident or how long the man was there before officers arrived, Carden said.
Chimenti has worked for the police department for 12 years and Eder about two years, Carden said.
Further information on the man could not be released for privacy reasons, Carden said.
