Emergency crews respond, find jumper safe

By John Howell
A 19-year-old man’s simulated suicide jump into the Tallahatchie River from the Panola Avenue bridge Thursday morning turned out well in that he was mostly unscathed when his landing was absorbed in the soft earth of the riverbank. But before his ruse was revealed multiple city, county and state resources had mobilized for a water recovery.
Panola County Sheriff’s Dept. Lt. Edward Dickson said that the man was apparently dealing with personal problems and staged the jump to impress his girlfriend. The jump convinced the girlfriend and at least one other witness that he had gone into the water, triggering the emergency responders.
“He did a damn good job of fooling us,” Dickson said after he walked from under the bridge where the supposed victim was discovered. When he realized the commotion, he apparently hid until he was found by searchers who had gathered along the water’s edge as they waited for a boat to be launched. The deputy said that the victim had by then became embarrassed to walk back to the top of the bridge where the crowd had assembled.

Reginald Milam of Batesville was transported by ambulance to Merit Health Batesville when he suffered a blood pressure spike from an anxiety attack after witnessing what he thought was a suicide.
Milam said that as he and his one-year-old son approached the bridge, he saw a car stopped nearby and thought the driver was having mechanical difficulties. He pulled over and turned around.
“By the time I made it to the bridge, he jumped,” Milam said.
Milam said that he had witnessed the suicide of a brother-in-law to whom he was close several years ago. Thursday’s event brought it all back to him, he said.
Milam made his way underneath the bridge. “I started poking into the water with a stick, but I could just feel rocks and the river current,” he said.
As first responders joined him on the riverbank, Milam climbed back to the south side of the bridge approach where he began to feel dizzy and leaned against a guardrail. He was interviewed by several first responders who had become concerned about his appearance and agreed to be transported by the ambulance after his wife arrived and realized the level to which his heart rate had risen. He was treated in the emergency room and released by early Thursday afternoon.
Emergency Management Coordinator Daniel Cole said at least it was a good training exercise.
Responding agencies included Batesville Police and Fire Departments, Panola County Sheriff’s Department, Panola County’s Dive Team, and Mississippi Dept. of Wildlife officers.
Cole also said Sardis Lake Corps of Engineers were called to cut off water flow before the jumper was located and Batesville’s Wastewater employees who are located nearby were asked to use their equipment to clear a way to launch search boats.