A suicidal man brought Lower Manhattan’s bustling Union Square to a halt Wednesday afternoon after he threatened to jump from inside a department store, police sources confirmed.
The NYPD blocked off the sidewalk and roadway outside DSW on 40 East 14th Street after an emotionally disturbed man was spotted standing on a ledge jeopardizing his safety and others. The spectacle drew a large group of onlookers who gathered to watch the drama unfold.
According to police, the incident began at around 2:30 pm, during which time several officers attempted to talk the 31-year-old man down. Rescue attempts seemed to stall, however, as the man refused to leave his elevated perch.
At about 4:20 pm the man’s bare feet could be seen dangling and thrashing about until responding officers swiftly moved in, grabbed him, and pulled him over the rail to a rousing round of applause from the now several hundred spectators.
The NYPD strapped him to a stretcher and EMS transported him to an area hospital for a psych evaluation.
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