NEWS RELEASE

RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT

31 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546

24 December 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Chief Tom Weitzel

708 447 2127 tweitzel@riverside.il.us

RIVERSIDE POLICE CAPTURE MAN AND TAKE HIM INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY
AFTER HE THREATENS SUICIDE ON RAILROAD TRACKS
Aurora man threatens to commit suicide then encourages officers to "just shoot me."

On Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 2:07 p.m., the Riverside Police Department received a call
from on duty fire fighters who were located in the Pine Avenue Riverside Fire Station for
assistance with an erratic individual. When the first officer arrived, he learned that a male
subject had walked into the firehouse and threw a bag of cannabis in the air and told firefighter
personnel that he wanted to kill himself. While they dialed 911 to get police assistance, the
subject fled east from the firehouse located on the 100 block of Pine towards the Longcommon
grade crossing for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.
When the first officer confronted the individual, he stated that he was going to commit suicide
and was walking up onto the railroad tracks. As the officer approached him to get him off the
tracks, he turned directly to the officer and stated, "You either let me commit suicide on the
tracks or just shoot me for suicide by a cop.
Additional responding police officers assisted the initial officer in physically tackling the suspect
and taking him into custody for his own protection. He was transported by Riverside paramedics
to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn for medical treatment.
The male is 35, 64, 270 pounds and lives in the 2400 block of Baldwin Court in Aurora.
This individual's name is not being released as he was not charged with any criminal act
or crime.
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel stated, "These are the types of situations that can really
go either way. I am extremely gratified that responding police officers were able to use their
verbal and physical skills to take the individual into protective custody and get him medical
assistance at MacNeal Hospital. It is also reassuring to know that Riverside fire and paramedic
personnel called 911 immediately so that police could have an early response and take the
subject from the railroad tracks before a train actually crossed."