Middletown Dive Team and Portland Police Recover Bridge Jumper

Authorities recovered the body of a person who jumped from the Arrigoni Bridge on Friday, the Portland Police Department announced Sunday.

The recovery took place in the Connecticut River at approximately 10 a.m. following a multi-day search operation, the Hartford Courant reported.

The Middletown Police Department Dive Team, working alongside Portland Police officer Paul Liseo, located the individual. The search had been active since the initial report of the incident occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

On Friday, emergency responders from both Portland and Middletown arrived at the scene after receiving reports that a person had scaled the sidewalk fencing on the bridge and jumped into the water.

Authorities Sunday recovered the body of the person who jumped off the Arrigoni Bridge on Friday, according to the Portland Police Department. The Middletown Police Department Dive Team, along with Portland Police officer Paul Liseo,… https://t.co/qaHbm5Vv7Y

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The recovery effort involved a wide range of specialized resources. Police deployed drone teams and canine units to sweep the shoreline as part of the investigation into the jump. The search required continuous coordination between multiple local agencies over the course of the weekend.

The Portland Police Department issued a statement acknowledging the extensive work required to conclude the search. They noted that the dive team had worked tirelessly since the incident was first reported on Friday.

“The Portland Police Department would like to extend a sincere thank you to Middletown Police Chief Erik Costa for the department’s support in granting the request for mutual aid through the dive team from the onset of the incident,” the Portland Police Department said in a statement. Portland Police Department

The department also credited Captain Aura Smith for her role in coordinating the deployment of the dive team and working directly with the victim’s family during the search process.

The Middletown Police Department Dive Team provided the primary underwater search capabilities for the operation, representing a mutual aid agreement between the neighboring jurisdictions.

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