HAGERSTOWN, MD — A Hagerstown Police Officer is being credited with saving the life of a man suffering from a mental health crisis while putting his own life at risk. A tractor trailer driver stopped his truck to divert traffic.
HPD Lt. Rebecca Fetchu says the incident happened Monday about 10:15. Officers were dispatched to the area of the 1900 block of Dual Highway for a male stating he was going to jump in to traffic.
“Master Police Officer Biden was first to arrive in the area and was waved down by a citizen telling him that there was a male on the shoulder of Interstate 70 underneath the Route 40 overpass. Officer Biden proceeded to go to the male’s location on I-70 westbound, where the individual walked on to the highway in front of oncoming traffic. Officer Biden was trying to detain the man but he continued to make attempts to walk on to the highway. Officer Biden was eventually able to handcuff him and safely remove him from the area. The subject was connected to the appropriate mental health services,” her report states.
HPD expressed appreciation to the Hagerstown Fire Department for their assistance in blocking the entrance ramp to the interstate to reduce vehicle traffic.
“In addition, an unknown tractor trailer driver stopped his truck in the lane closest to Officer Biden and the man struggling in order to slow traffic,” Fetchu says.
“Officer Biden had to react on his own, as there was no time to wait for backup while other HPD officers and Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies were in route to assist,” the report continues.
“The Hagerstown Police Department congratulates Officer Biden on his heroic work, no doubt saving the life of this man,” Fetchu says. Officer Biden is a 16 year veteran of the police department and currently assigned to the patrol division.
