Crime & Safety
UPDATE: Standoff at Cape May Coast Guard Base Ends; Man Atop Water Tower
An active duty Coast Guard member climbed to the top of the base Thursday afternoon, NBC 40 reports.
UPDATE: The standoff atop a water tower at the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May has ended.
A Coast Guard member climbed down from a 165-foot water tower at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May at about 2 a.m. Friday, according to the Coast Guard.
The member climbed up the water tower without authorization at about 12 noon Thursday.
Negotiators from the Cape May County Prosecutors Office worked with the member for 14 hours, resulting in the Coast Guard Fire Department passing a harness to the man and assisted him in safely climbing down from water tower.
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The Coast Guard Police Department and fire department, Cape May Police Department and fire department, Cape May County Sheriff’s Department and SWAT team all responded to the incident, according to the Coast Guard.
“We are so grateful the situation was able to be resolved safely,” said Capt. G. Todd Prestidge, the commanding officer of the training center. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the member and his family during this difficult time.
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"I am very proud of the response from my crew and the local Coast Guard family, and appreciate the support and partnership from local agencies. Cape May County truly is a Coast Guard Community.”
Recruit graduation will take place Friday on the base as scheduled.
The video attached to this post was posted on nbc40.net.
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