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The incident took place around 12:30 p.m., Monday, May 27, when deputies received a 911 call that a man who parked his car on the westbound side of the highway, was now standing on the edge of Veterans Memorial Bridge, which goes over Route 6 in Brewster, holding a piece of paper, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputy Sheriff Kevin Osika and Sergeant Thomas Lee of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department responded. Osika arrived within two minutes and found the man with his arms raised, standing on the edge of the bridge.
The man appeared to be praying and about to jump off the bridge, the department said.
Osika approached the man cautiously from behind and when he was close enough, he grabbed the man from behind and wrestled him to the ground.
Sgt. Lee arrived on the scene just as Osika got the individual handcuffed.
The 36-year-old man said that he wanted to die and a suicide note was found in his possession, the department reported.
The man was transported to Putnam Hospital Center for a mental health evaluation.
"Deputy Osika went above and beyond the call of duty, placing his own life at risk of falling off the bridge while wrestling to save the life of this individual," said Sgt. Lee.
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