Jersey Shore Rescue Turns Violent as Man Allegedly Confronts First Responders in Icy Waters

NJ SHORE— Officials in Atlantic City stated that a man who was retrieved from the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean on New Year’s Eve attacked first responders with a screwdriver.

Around 12:30 p.m., police and firefighters from Atlantic City went to rescue a man who was having trouble near the Rhode Island Avenue beach jetty. The man was drifting past the jetty when the police arrived. Officials were anxious about his safety because he was awake but not swimming in the cold weather.

Firefighter Dominic Gitto got on a longboard and jumped into the freezing water to save the man. Officials said that the rescue effort swiftly turned confrontational. People say that the person battled against being saved and hit Gitto with a hidden screwdriver while they were in the water. The firefighter stopped the onslaught and took charge of the situation.

A wave runner and a sled were used when more firefighters arrived. The firefighters established a human chain to drag the man to shallow water because he didn’t want help. Officials said that the man didn’t want to be saved even after he came to shore.

When police in Atlantic City discovered out the man had a gun, they jumped into the ocean. When the man was brought to the shore, the cops held him down and detained him. There were no additional weapons detected.

During the rescue, Gitto’s water suit ripped and let in frigid water. He was really cold, so they took him to Atlantic City Medical Center. They let him go that same day. Officials also said that Gitto joined the Atlantic City Fire Department a few months ago, which highlights how perilous it is for new first responders to start their jobs.

A man who was retrieved from the river was arrested and sent to a hospital nearby for treatment. They said he was sent to a mental health unit. The last update didn’t identify who he was or what formal charges were against him. Officials didn’t release any more information right away.

The event shows how hard it is to plan for emergency rescues, especially when the weather is poor. Officials also said that even though there was fighting, firefighters and cops worked together to save both the responder and the victim.

Sources:
Atlantic City Fire Department
Atlantic City Police Department