Jan. 11, 2013 By Christian Murray
The NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit closed off 40th Street (between 47th and 48th Avenues) on Tuesday after an elderly woman with a history of mental illness threatened to commit suicide.
The woman had failed to take her medication and was planning to jump out of a 3rd floor window, according to police.
The police arrived on the scene with a tremendous amount of force. Several cops wore helmets and vests. There were firefighters and rescue teams on the site as well.
The rescue team was able to convince the woman not to jump, according to police.
The police said that they were wearing the protective gear since they broke into her home through the front door. The police often wear such gear when they are uncertain as to what might await them.
The ordeal lasted hours. For instance, at 3pm, a worker at a nearby restaurant said the street had been closed for more than an hour.
