A Look at Police Calls to the Now-Famous Brecksville Bridge

The state Route 82 bridge connecting Brecksville and Sagamore Hills got quite a bit of press at the beginning of the month when five men were arrested for allegedly planning to blow it up, but it’s not the only time it’s been the site of suspicious activity.

Usually, the receives calls for the bridge in the because people see someone that they think might jump, said Police Chief Richard E. Mannarino. The department receives calls from concerned citizens every few months, and all but one in the past few years has ended safely. There has been one death in the past year.

Mannarino said people should call if they notice someone loitering on the bridge, especially if the person appears anxious or nervous and if they stay for awhile. And photographers, who are responsible for a good portion of the calls, need to make sure they stay out of traffic.

Here’s a look at the calls the Brecksville and Sagamore Hills police departments received for the bridge in 2010, 2011 and 2012. These details were pulled from reports from one or both agencies:

• Feb. 28, 2010: Reports were made of a suspicious person on the bridge. The man was just taking photos.
• Sept. 15, 2010: A man was seen looking over the side of the bridge. He was trying to get footage of the train below.
• Feb. 21, 2011: A man was on the bridge, possibly taking pictures. He was found to be photographing a snowstorm over the valley.
• Oct. 27, 2011: A man was seen looking over the bridge. Police could not find him.
• Nov. 16, 2011: A man was walking across the bridge, stopping from time to time to look over it. Police could not find him.
• Jan. 11, 2012: Police received calls that a man had jumped off the bridge. A 21-year-old North Royalton man was found dead in the river. The Sun Star-Courier has the full story.
• March 11, 2012: Police received a call that a man was looking over the bridge. He was taking photos.
• March 17, 2012: A couple was spotted looking over the bridge. They couldn’t be found.

And regarding the infamous incident earlier this month, the Associated Press reports that the five men arrested for allegedly planning to blow up the bridge are expected back in court on Thursday.