Man rescued from cell tower by Alachua County Sheriff’s Office after threatening to jump

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office received a call on July 1st from a 23 year-old man threatening to jump from a local cell tower. According to ACSO Public Information Officer Art Forgey, the call came in at around 1:58 p.m.

“He stated that he had climbed a tower at 4209 NW 115th Terrace and had planned to jump and end his life,” Forgey reported.

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After climbing the tower the man said he decided against jumping and needed help getting down. ACSO deputies and Alachua County Fire Rescue were able to safely get him back on the ground. 

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 “He was assisted in receiving mental health treatment and the Sheriff’s Office Mental Health Team partnered with Meridian and will follow up with him to make sure that he receives the services needed,” Forgey reported.

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare launched a Co-Responder team last month in partnership with the ACSO. Meridian’s first team was launched in April of 2018 in partnership with the City of Gainesville and the Gainesville Police Department and has delivered positive outcomes. 

“The Co-Responder concept involves partnering law enforcement officers with mental health professionals to act as first responders to calls for service involving persons with a mental illness so that we can provide them the services they need and potentially keep them out of the criminal justice system” stated Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell.   

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