Man jumps from cliff at Cedar Bluffs preserve after bolting from deputies
Editor's note: If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available by calling 988, the national suicide and crisis lifeline.
A 39-year-old Bloomington man died by suicide Monday evening after bolting from deputies and jumping off a cliff at Cedar Bluffs nature preserve as he was being led away from the site for help.
David Howard, co-founder of ReVv & Strum Hospitality, died from blunt-force trauma, according to Monroe County Coroner Joani Stalcup. She ruled that his death was by suicide.
Footage from a Monroe County Sheriff's Department deputy's body camera shows Howard handcuffed and sitting on the ground. Officers had arrived just after 7 p.m. and subdued him near the cliff's edge after he had threatened death from suicide.
Deputies Trent Walls and Shawn Sullivan agreed Howard needed mental health care and were leading him out of the nature preserve to an ambulance. They helped Howard stand up, and one put his hand on Howard's arm as they started to walk away. Then, in an instant, Howard spun around and jumped over the 75-foot cliff the nature preserve in known for.
The two Monroe County sheriff's deputies had rushed to the scene after getting a 911 call that a body would be found at the 23-acre nature preserve off Ketcham Road. It turns out the call came from Howard, who was there contemplating suicide.
Sheriff's office releases body camera footage
The sheriff's office issued a news release with details about the incident and released the deputies' body camera footage. A department review of the actions of the two deputies at the scene determined they had followed sheriff's office protocol.
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They arrived expecting to find a body but instead saw Howard and a woman in a tussle near the cliff's edge. Here are excerpts from the sheriff's office news release:
"When the deputies arrived on scene they searched the area, along with Monroe Fire personnel, but were unable to locate a body. While searching the area, they eventually located two subjects atop the cliff, near the cliff edge, involved in a physical altercation. It appeared to the deputies the male, later identified as Mr. Howard, was attempting to throw the female off the cliff. Deputies and fire personnel rushed over and grabbed Mr. Howard, wrestled him to the ground, and handcuffed him for the safety of those on scene. After being restrained, Mr. Howard was placed in a seated position and deputies were able to de-escalate the situation. Mr. Howard remained cooperative and quiet from that time forward."
They spoke with the two for 13 minutes and Howard said just, "You were supposed to carry me out of here,” the news release said.
"Mr. Howard cooperatively took two steps when he suddenly rotated to the right and forcefully pulled away from Deputy Sullivan, who was holding Mr. Howard in an escort position," the statement continued. "As Mr. Howard rotated to a position behind Deputy Sullivan, he began to run towards the edge of the cliff. Deputy Sullivan grabbed Mr. Howard's arm a second time in an attempt to control him, which pulled Deputy Sullivan closer the edge of the cliff. Mr. Howard forcefully pulled away again and jumped off the cliff. The elapsed time from when Mr. Howard rotated from Deputy Sullivan’s control to when he leapt from the cliff’s edge was approximately two seconds."
The department's initial review of the incident "determined the deputies actions during this incident were within departmental policies and procedures," the news release said. "The Monroe County Sheriff's Office extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Howard for their tremendous loss."
Howard's younger brother, Daniel Howard, lives in Colorado. He is devastated by the loss, saying his brother had struggled with depression for years. He encouraged anyone considering suicide to seek help.
Dialing 988 connects callers to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline so they can immediately talk to someone about their situation.
More: 988 is the new number to call for help in a mental health crisis
David Howard owned Howard's Home Improvements, a Bloomington remodeling company he started in 2005. He was co-owner of ReVv & Strum Hospitality, which developed the Alley Works project on West Sixth Street and is home to apartments, Nourish Bar, Brilliant Coffee Co. and Capisce Market.
Daniel Howard said there will be a memorial service for his brother at Allen Funeral Home from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 30, with a reception to follow.
Contact Herald-Times reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Man dies after jumping from cliff at Cedar Bluffs in front of police
