FLORIDA — (Scroll Down For Video) — On May 29, 2018 at 4:47 p.m. Ocala PD received reports of a suicidal man hanging on the exterior fence of the SW 43rd Street Road I-75 overpass. Officer Kristen Whitston was the first to arrive and began negotiations with the man, identified as Sam. The first portion of this video is Officer Whitston’s body camera.
Sergeant Casey Eades, who is the Hostage Negotiation Team Leader and Supervisor, took over until the Lead Negotiator, Detective Joshua Fried, arrived on scene.
The second portion of this video is Officer John Hilton’s body camera. Officer Hilton and Officer Brennan Grady aided Detective Fried, working as a team to keep Sam on the fence.
The entire process took approximately 40 minutes. “It ended with a handshake and a hug,” said Detective Fried. “As promised.”
