Police suspect suicide in Ann Arbor parking structure death
Police found a person dead of an apparent suicide near the Ashley and Ann Parking Structure in Ann Arbor Tuesday morning. Police are investigating.
Lizzy Alfs | AnnArbor.com
This story has been updated with the approximate age and sex of the deceased.
A man in his 50s was found dead of an apparent suicide on a sidewalk on North Ashley Street near Miller Avenue in Ann Arbor Tuesday morning, police said.
Ann Arbor police Sgt. Paul Curtis said police, fire and ambulance personnel were dispatched to the area on Ashley Street at 7:10 a.m. Tuesday for a medical request. When they arrived, Curtis said one man was dead on the east sidewalk of Ashley Street near Miller Avenue beside a parking structure there.
Police had not released the man's identity as of 2:45 p.m. Tuesday. Police believe the man jumped from the parking structure.
Ashley Street was closed between Ann Street and Miller Avenue while police investigated the area.
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939.
If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts or would like to speak with someone, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Help is available 24 hours a day.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
CL1014
Sat, Dec 8, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.
My family and friends were wondering if any one knows the name of the man how passed? We know tons of people in Ann Arbor, and we would also like to know if his family has come forward yet to give this man a proper burial?
BhavanaJagat
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 5:13 a.m.
Depression and a coping mechanism : While I understand the role of depression as a contributing factor, the problem of suicide can only be prevented if people learn better coping skills. It would be too late if we plan to provide support after an individual had failed to cope with a known or unknown problem. Man always exists at a risk of experiencing an unknown sense of dissatisfaction in his living condition even when he has no worries or concerns about his economic and social condition. Man is a creature of his emotions and there may be no external influence that may initiate a feeling of depression. For that reason, I suggest that man must seek the 'God-Connection', a partnership, a relationship, a bonding, an association that works as a good coping mechanism while he entertains suicidal thoughts for any reason.
Denise A
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 1:33 a.m.
As mentioned in the comments, people are affected by depression for a number of specific reasons but sometimes without a known reason. Some people that have chronic depression may have a chemical imbalance in the brain [and/or other reasons]. If someone you know seems depressed, talk with them and be supportive; see if there's anything you can do for them. Sometimes just being there is enough. If you think the person may be suicidal, it's ok to ask if they have a plan. For many of these people, you asking about it won't be putting a new idea in their head; and you may be able to help them through a crisis. Or if they won't call or go for help, you can make that call yourself [911, a suicide hotline, etc] and try and stay with the person until help arrives.
Denise A
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 1:18 a.m.
My condolences to the family and friends of this man. It brings back memories of a brother's suicide in the 1980s who also jumped from a parking structure in AA.
BhavanaJagat
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 9:06 p.m.
Sympathy in Action : I thank AnnArbor.com for publishing this news and it indeed generates feelings of sympathy in my heart irrespective of any personal relationship with this unknown victim. Our relationships exist in the fact of our human nature. I used to park my car on Ashley Street for nearly ten years and used to visit this area almost every day. The problem of suicide definitely needs public understanding and there is always something to learn when we read about these incidents. There is no one, single, effective tool to prevent death due to suicide while we generally claim that suicides are preventable. Since, we had failed to prevent this death, we have to again reconsider our options. If prevention demands educating people about the problem, we have to discuss the contents of that education that aims to prevent suicide. Man may seek freedom, or independence by killing himself, but, the reality is; there is no escape from dependence. By simply accepting the fact that human existence needs mercy, grace, and compassion of the LORD GOD, the thought and desire to commit suicide would simply fade away. I am not sponsoring some religion, I am simply sharing my understanding about the nature of human existence that demands an external source of support.
Barb's Mom
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 3 a.m.
Having lost a daughter in a murder suicide just 2 years ago, I wish annarbor.com would NOT print more articles about this incident. It only gives the uncaring, unsympathetic, people something to gossip about, and a place to spout their own ill feelings. The family is going through enough and DO NOT need reporters and others contacting them to " get the rest of the story". My sympathy to the family members of this unfortunate individual.
justcurious
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 9:19 p.m.
This time of year is hard on people, especially those who are estranged or separated from their families. We all need to be on the lookout for signs of depression in those we know and love and try to help. I'm hearing daily calls regarding suicidal subjects on the scanner. Please help if you can before it is too late for someone.
Beth Hoag
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 9:08 p.m.
I park in this structure and saw the lights and yellow tape when pulled in this morning but no ER vehicles. It wasn't until after the fact, of looking over the edge of an upper level and seeing him down below, did I regret my curiosity. This is the third jumper since working downtown and parking in this structure. Whomever it was, I hope they are at peace now.
UlyssesWrong1
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 7:43 p.m.
Very sad and unfortunate to hear. Suicide and depression are two issues many people face and never speak to others about until it is too late. I suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts for years and I encourage everyone to talk to people they feel might be at risk. Sometimes you just need a good friend or someone to talk to.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 6:30 p.m.
My condolences to anyone who knew this guy. Suicide leaves a lot of emotional devastation in its wake.
Gretchen Ridenour
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 5:13 p.m.
Another resource for suicide ideation: Psychiatric Emergency Services at UMHS, call: (734) 936-5900
Steven Murphy
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 5:11 p.m.
I suspect suicide is going to go up significantly due to the unemployment situation. It's tough to live if there's no food and one is expected to live out in the cold, mean streets. God bless the person in this particular instance.
WalkingJoe
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
Why is it when something like this happens everyone demands to know the gory details. As for me I just hope the person, no matter how they died , is at peace.
seldon
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.
Because it's news, Barb's Mom. When someone jumps off a public building, or steps in front of a truck on a public highway, it's a public event and thus of public interest. The family doesn't have a right to control that information, any more than they do if a member is killed in a car accident or is arrested.
Barb's Mom
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
@ seldon--why does annarbor.com need to publish the name? Once the family is notified, they can choose whether to publish an obituary or not. If they choose not to, it is their right. If you don't find out, you aren't that important in the deceased persons life.
seldon
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 3:37 a.m.
(I do support not publishing the names of people who have died until the family is notified. But annarbor.com frequently never publishes it. Watch and see whether they ever do here.)
seldon
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 3:13 a.m.
If you think that, then you either don't know many people or they're tightly connected. There are a lot of folks I went to school with, or used to work with, or are more distant friends, who I'm not in touch with regularly. Sure, there's a decent chance I might see something on Facebook, but not necessarily. I've been in Ann Arbor a long time. I know a lot of people.
getyourstorystraightfirst
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 10:18 p.m.
If it's someone you know, I would assume that you would find out a different way then the newspaper! Their name can't be released until the investigation is over & family is notified.
seldon
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 6:49 p.m.
The thing a lot of us ask, and annarbor.com doesn't answer, is who the person is. That's because the first thing people want to know when they see an article like this is whether it's someone we know. That's natural.
FrankOZ
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
Thoughts are with the family of this person. So hard on them.....and even harder being this time of year.
Jeanette
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
How utterly sad. . .
GoNavy
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 4:14 p.m.
Very little to go off of here. Will wait for more details.
Billy
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
I'm sure there were cameras that showed what happened, so I hope that's why they're making the suicide assessment so quickly. It's not like people can't be thrown over ledges or drunkenly stumble over them... Was there any indication yet on when the death occurred? Did it just happen around sun up, or did it happened much earlier in the morning, like 2am?
Dr. Fate
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 2:57 a.m.
Billy, was there a faint smell of almonds in the area? Murder, he wrote?
MARK
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 1:22 a.m.
No cameras in the AA parking garages. I know this because someone coming out of a garage T-boned my car and totaled it . No cameras to document the slaughter(of my car)
Homeland Conspiracy
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 12:16 a.m.
Looks like Billy is writing a book
Kyle Feldscher
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
Billy- It appears it happened right around the dispatch time, probably a little bit before.
Shadeau
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 3:05 p.m.
The body was not there at 7am.
Barb
Tue, Dec 4, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.
How awful. Their poor family. :(