Aurora Bridge fatal leap will be reviewed by police

Aurora Bridge fatal leap will be reviewed by police
Seattle police are investigating the department's handling of a Nov. 3 incident that ended when 48-year-old Derik E. Loso plunged to his death from the Aurora Bridge after hanging from the outside railing for more than two hours.

By Steve Miletich

Seattle Times staff reporter
Seattle police are investigating the department's handling of an incident that ended when a 48-year-old man plunged to his death from the Aurora Bridge after clinging outside the railing for more than two hours.

Police reported that Derik E. Loso jumped from the bridge Nov. 3 while officers sought to negotiate with him. The King County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a suicide.

But the department is investigating because an officer tried to place a handcuff on Loso's arm moments before he dropped, said Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, a department spokesman.

Whitcomb said the attempt to handcuff Loso and pull him back onto the bridge stemmed from concern that Loso was tiring and could lose his grip.

Two police sources said negotiators usually don't try to rush or grab a suicidal person who is threatening to jump from a high structure because it is risky and could precipitate a jump or accidental fall.

Whitcomb said it was unusual for someone to cling outside of the bridge and that a decision had to be made to try to "save this man's life."

He said officers, who also were joined by firefighters on the bridge, would have waited as long as needed if they believed that was the best course of action.

Whitcomb said investigators are documenting what happened but probably won't be able to determine if Loso chose to jump or fell as the attempt to handcuff him was made.

"I'm not sure we're ever going to know," Whitcomb said.

Detectives in the homicide unit are taking statements from officers who were at the scene to determine what happened.

Matthew Loso said his brother, who was married with a young son, had displayed suicidal tendencies for at least two weeks before his death.

He said his brother mailed money to others to pay debts and "disappeared from our radar."

His brother also was experiencing marital difficulties and wondering whether his job as a floor director at KIRO television was a "dead-end job," Matthew Loso said.

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