Toms River Police Officers Convince Man Not to Jump From Hospital Parking Garage

Community Medical Center, May 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

A three-hour negotiation between Toms River police officers and a man threatening to jump from the top of the parking deck at Community Medical Center on Monday ended with the man safely being talked down, officials said.

Township police officers were called to the hospital at 8:47 a.m. Monday for a report of a “missing suicidal male,” said Lt. Gene Bachonski.

At approximately 9:40 a.m., the man was located standing on the ledge of the top floor of the parking garage at Community Medical Center threatening to jump off. Negotiators from the Toms River Police Department Detective Bureau responded to attempt to speak with the man and bring him to safety.

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After approximately three hours of negotiating with the man, he came down and was taken for a mental health evaluation, Bachonski said.

In addition to the Toms River Police Department, several agencies responded and assisted at the scene, including: the Toms River Fire Department, Neptune Township Emergency Management (provided jump air bag), Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and Community Medical Center Security.