Video: New Jersey police sergeant stops man from committing suicide

RIVERDALE, NJ -- There is dramatic video of a New Jersey police officer stopping an attempted suicide.

On Monday, Riverdale Police Sgt. Greg Bogert responded to reports of a man walking in and out of traffic on Route 287.

The man was upset and crying. Police eventually discovered he was distraught over family issues. They said he intended to take his life.

"I pull up, and I start to open up the door," said Bogert. "The windows open, and I'm trying to talk to him, because I didn't want him to panic and take off on me. He focused on the edge of the bridge, and I knew he was going to take a run for it."

When the man took off, Bogert chased him.

"I just started screaming, 'Don't do it, don't do it' and just ran as fast as I could to stop him from jumping."

Bogert was able to get to the man just in time.

"You don't have time to think about it. Things happen so fast, you just have to react," he said.

The man was taken into custody by state police, then brought to the hospital. No one was hurt.

Bogert has been on the police force in Riverdale for 18 years.