By Natalie De La Garza
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Even though Caribou Police Officer Chad Foley said he was only doing his job, a Caribou man is alive today thanks to the officer’s quick action.
Foley was out on patrol in rural Caribou the morning of Sept. 6 when he came across an adult male sitting near the road straight-legged and hunched forward. Foley stopped and asked if the gentleman was OK, and the response was a headshake “no.”
Noticing that there was an energy drink can on the side of the road with the man, Foley worried that the he was choking and quickly got out of the patrol car to help.
“But as I came up upon him I noticed he had fashioned basically a garrote out of his shoe laces, where he had knotted the laces and wound them about three times around his neck,” Foley explained.
The man was starting to turn blue, but the laces were so tight that Foley couldn’t get a finger underneath the string. Using his knife, Foley was able to safely cut the cord.
Once the man began breathing better, Foley was able to confirm that it was a suicide attempt. The officer also noted that, so far as he could tell, the man was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The man was transported to Cary Medical Center by ambulance.
A 19-year police force veteran, Foley has seen the aftermath of similar tragic events and was glad this gentleman survived.
“Hopefully he can get the help he needs,” the officer said.
