Police Subdue Suicidal Man on Arrigoni Bridge

A man who threatened several times to jump off the Arrigoni Bridge late Sunday was secured by Middletown and Portland officers after a nearly two-hour standoff, police say.

At 11 p.m., Middletown Police were called about a shirtless male standing on the Jersey barriers on the Arrigoni Bridge. The bridge, which connects Middletown and Portland over the Connecticut River, is about 90 feet above the water.

Officers found the male climbing on the bridge super structure. The male climbed to the top of the center span of the bridge and paced back and forth on the girders.

Middletown and Portland Police closed the bridge and Middletown and Portland Fire Departments responded.

Middletown Police Officer Kurt Scrivo negotiated with the man for one and three-quarter hours, during which time the male made several threats to jump. Scrivo convinced the man to climb down the ladder attached to the bridge in exchange for a cigarette, according to the report.

The bottom of the ladder ends 15 feet above the bridge deck and is above a section of sidewalk that had been removed during construction. 

Middletown Fire got the man down with a ladder truck. Lt. Milardo of Portland Police went in the bucket of the ladder truck with fire personnel and secured the male, who was transported to Middlesex Hospital for observation.   

The Bridge was reopened at 12:45 a.m.