Friend Makes Life-Saving Phone Call To Wilton Manors Police
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- A friend's call may have saved the life of a person in Wilton Manors Monday morning.
A friend from out of Florida called Wilton Manors Police around 5 a.m. saying his friend was trying to commit suicide at his home near NW 24th Street and 6th Avenue.
Officers with guns drawn swarmed the neighborhood.
"Wilton Manors Police Department responded to the residence in question and attempted to make contact with the subject who was inside. The subject inside refused to communicate with the police officers on scene," said Sgt. Biagio Balistreri with Wilton Manors Police.
During the incident, the public was being asked to stay away from the area of NW 6 Avenue/NW 7 Avenue and 22 Street/24 Street.
That's when S.W.A.T. and Fort Lauderdale Police negotiators stepped in. As officers waited,they discovered something else.
"While waiting, it was discovered that a second subject was inside the residence. It was not immediately known what the person inside was doing, if they were a hostage or if they were free to leave," said Balistreri.
Officers said the friend was trying to help and was free to leave at any point.
After three hours of speaking to negotiators over the phone, both walked out safely.
Officers said they were able to resolved the situation, take the person into custody and recovered a gun at the home around 8:30 a.m.
Friends said the man was recently diagnosed with cancer and has been going through a rough time. They said he was supposed to undergo surgery on Tuesday.
"The situation with the pending surgery has been stressful on him," said neighbor David Rutherford.
The man was taken to the hospital for mental evaluation. No charges have been filed.
While the situation was resolved, neighbors were still startled by the incident.
Gene Marcus says officers knocked on his door, told him to shut off the lights and stay inside.
"Kind of crazy to wake up to that on a Labor Day morning," said neighbor Gene Marcus. "I shut off the light and he told my neighbor across the street he thought was trying to commit suicide and to stay away from the window."
While they were startled, many wished the man well.
"I hope he's okay," said another neighbor.
