By Brittany Hailer
Yesterday, at 9:35 p.m., a 50-year-old man jumped from the visitor’s entrance bridge of the Allegheny County Jail landing on the driveway below, according to an email sent to the Jail Oversight Board by jail Deputy Warden Laura Williams.
“He was released from the jail and subsequently jumped to the driveway below the visitor’s bridge,” Williams wrote. “He was alert and verbal when Police and EMS responded.”
According to the email, the man was transported to a nearby hospital and placed under involuntary commitment status.
William wrote that the man had been recently admitted to the jail on Aug. 16 and was subsequently released on Aug. 18.
“He had been evaluated by mental health staff and had not been placed on suicide precaution no was he perscibed any mental health medications,” Williams wrote.
The Pittsburgh Institute for Nonprofit Journalism first heard of reports of a man jumping from the entrance of the jail and landing outside the intake department by incarcerated persons. Reports were confirmed with Allegheny County Councilwoman and Jail Oversight Board member Bethany Hallam.
“It’s a tragedy anytime anyone attempts self-harm, especially a person being released from incarceration. It is our duty as community members, and the duty of all of our elected leaders, to ensure that our neighbors leaving jail have the support and resources they need to thrive. It is way past time we get to the bottom of what is going on in the Allegheny County Jail that is leading so many people to be harmed and lives to be lost,” said Hallam.
Williams wrote to the JOB that because the man is no longer in custody of the jail, “ACJ staff is not entitled to any additional projected health information.”
This is a developing story.