65°
A former Rockland County employee is dangling on a wire about 40 feet below the Tappan Zee Bridge, waving a banner that alleges Rockland government corruption. The man is attached to the wire by a harness and hanging midspan on the Westchester bound side of the bridge. Rescue boats are on the scene and traffic on the bridge is snarled.
The protester, Michael Davitt, of Rockland, was fired from the county's Mental Health Department, law enforcement sources said. He has been hanging from the bridge since about 10:45 a.m.
The blue banner targets Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef and the Rockland County Legislature, and reads, in part, "Rockland Executive Legislature Coverup Retaliation."
A spokesman for the County Executive, Ron Levine, says "All levels of law enforcement are currently on the scene trying to coax the dangler down."
"We don't know who he is, but our most important concern at this point is the safety of this individual doing something extremely dangerous."
When asked about Vanderhoef's initial reaction to the dangler's message, Levine responded by saying "One doesn't have to hang from the bridge to get his message across."
Carla Pellicci, of Tarrytown, was taking a walk by the riverfront, when she saw news helicopters flying overhead.
"I thought it was an Occupy Wall Street protester," Pellicci said. "I'm just amazed that anyone would do anything like this. It's unnerving."
A crowd has gathered at the Hudson RiverWalk Park in Tarrytown, to watch and wait to see what happens.
Check back for updates.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Bedford and receive free news updates.
