Off-Duty Evanston Police Officer Saves Person from Suicide Attempt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 26, 2015

Contact: Cmdr. Joseph Dugan - Media Relations
Phone:   (847) 866-5026

Email: jdugan@cityofevanston.org

OFF-DUTY OFFICER SAVES PERSON FROM JUMPING OFF PARKING GARAGE

On May 24, 2015 at approximately 5:00 pm an off-duty Evanston Police detective was exiting a downtown Evanston restaurant, when one of his family members noticed a male subject standing on the ledge on the top floor of the parking garage located in the 1800 block of Maple Avenue.  The detective notified the dispatch center and proceeded to the top floor of the parking garage when the responding officers arrived.  The male subject was extremely distraught and stated that he was going to kill himself by jumping off of the ledge.  At one point the subject threw his wallet and cellular phone to the ground below.  As two on-duty detectives were speaking with the subject, it was increasingly apparent that he was not going to come down willingly and that he fully intended to take his own life.  As the two detectives continued to speak with and distract the subject, the off-duty detective was able to crawl along the ledge behind the subject and grab hold of him until assisting units were able to pull the person to safety. The subject was transported to Evanston hospital for treatment.   

The off-duty detective is identified as Ken Carter a 12 year veteran of the police department, currently assigned to the Neighborhood Enforcement Team.  The male subject is an Evanston resident, 22 years of age and is not being identified by the department.  

The Evanston Police Department would like to commend Detective Carter for his initiative and his selfless actions that resulted in the saving of a human life.  

The incident was captured on surveillance video from the parking garage and can be viewed by clicking here.