R.I. Police Coax Woman from Ledge of Parking Garage Roof

Nov. 11, 2021

After officers talked to her, a Providence police officer grabbed a panicked woman on the top floor of a parking garage and held her while his colleagues rushed to get control of her.

By Mark Reynolds

Source The Providence Journal

Providence, RI, police talked down a woman who was on the ledge of a parking garage roof Wednesday.

PROVIDENCE, RI—A woman might have jumped or inadvertently fallen from a high perch on a ledge at the Biltmore parking garage without intervention from Providence police on Wednesday morning.

The 48-year-old Massachusetts woman, standing on a ledge on the top floor of the garage, appeared to be crying and emotional, according to Providence police Cmdr. Thomas Verdi.

Police went to the scene at 9:26 a.m. Some officers tried to calm her down and coax her off the ledge, Verdi said. But at one point the woman became despondent and a crisis negotiator thought she was disconnected.

She began to panic while looking down from the ledge, Verdi said.

One officer, he said, captured her attention while Officer Jared Stanzione, a member of the fugitive task force, made his way to an opening in the wall of a staircase near the woman's location.

Stanzione made use of the opening to quickly grab the woman's arm and shoulder, Verdi said. He held her as officers rushed in and got control of her.

The woman was taken to the hospital for a mental health evaluation and treatment.

"They saved her life," Verdi said.

Suicide prevention resources

Anyone in immediate danger should call 9-1-1.

BHLink: For confidential support and to get connected to care, call (401) 414-LINK (5465) or visit the BHLink 24-hour/7-day triage center at 975 Waterman Ave., East Providence. Website: https://www.bhlink.org
The Samaritans of Rhode Island: (401) 272-4044 or (800) 365-4044. Website: samaritansri.org
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-TALK, or (800) 273-8255
The Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 "from anywhere in the USA, anytime, about any type of crisis."
Butler Hospital Behavioral Health Services Call Center: Available 24/7 "to guide individuals seeking advice for themselves or others regarding suicide prevention." (844) 401-0111
Thrive Behavioral Health's Emergency Services' 24-hour crisis hotline: 401-738-4300.

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