Firefighters Rescue Suicidal Accused Burglar Who Jumped Into Shallow Hackensack River

The tide was rolling out when a suicidal local man suspected in a series of burglaries jumped into the Hackensack River Monday night.

Hackensack firefighters using a boat and ropes pulled the suicidal man from the river.
Photo Credit: *HACKENSACK FD*

Jerry DeMarco

11/24/2020 10:33 a.m.

City firefighters pulled the troubled 32-year-old local resident from hip-deep water after he plunged more than 10 feet from a pedestrian bridge on the FDU campus around 7:40 p.m., police Capt. Darrin DeWitt said.

He was treated for exposure to the elements and taken to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment of possible trauma and a mental health evaluation, DeWitt said.

The jumper was recently captured and ordered released by a Central Judicial Processing Court judge in Hackensack following the burglary of a city store. Detectives were investigating his possible involvement in other break-ins.

Firefighters from Teaneck and Oradell also responded.

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