Smoker on Second Floor Window Ledge Mistaken for Suicide Threat and Wrestled Into the Psych Ward by Police

StuRap@Flickr

Mark Moody of Manhattan is suing the city of New York for $400 000 over an incident this month that left him handcuffed and dumped in a psych ward.

Moody, who smokes on his window ledge (on the second floor) to minimize the smell of smoke in his apartment was having a cigarette earlier this month when a police car screeched to a stop below him. Two police officers got out and asked Moody if he was about to commit suicide, to which the 40 year old lawyer replied, “If I was going to commit suicide, this would be a pretty dumb place to do it. If I jumped from here, I’d just sprain my ankle.”

Police insisted that the man come down to talk, but Moody refused – which led to the arrival of 4 more police cars and 3 ambulances and to police officers storming his apartment, handcuffing him and dragging him by force to a local psychiatric hospital.

Taken to Beth Israel Medical Centre, the on-duty psychiatrist spoke to Moody for about 3 minutes, before writing discharge papers and apologizing on behalf of the city.