DANVERS — Negotiators from the Danvers and state police persuaded a 51-year-old woman hanging from the ledge of her third-story apartment to climb back on her balcony yesterday.
For almost two hours, Danvers police Sgt. Tim Zuch and state police Sgt. Peter Sennott spoke to the woman from the outside of her Endicott Green apartment before she finally climbed to safety, police Capt. Ed Plamowski said.
The woman, Shawna Murray, 51, was then restrained by officers waiting inside her apartment. They took her to Beverly Hospital.
However, Murray was later arrested after she kicked an emergency medical technician from Lyon Ambulance in the face. Police charged Murray with disorderly conduct and assault and battery on an ambulance personnel. The EMT suffered minor injuries.
"I really want to praise all of the people (involved in the rescue)," Plamowski said. "It went very well."
The captain singled out Zuch and Sennott for their work speaking to Murray. Also helping in the negotiation was Bill Donoghue of the state police.
Plamowski said the negotiators kept Murray calm and persuaded her to get back on her balcony, even after she had threatened to let herself fall.
Police responded to Murray's apartment on Route 1 South for a well-being check at 1 p.m. But when officers showed up, the woman ran out on her balcony and climbed over it, hanging over the edge.
"She kept reaching back and forth with both hands," Plamowski said on how Murray was able to hold on for so long, alternating her grip from hand to hand.
In addition to the impact of a three-story fall on concrete, police were also worried about gas meters down below.
To avoid any distraction, state police Maj. Kevin Kelly cleared the air space over the apartment complex to prevent news helicopters from hovering there.
At 2:45 p.m., Murray climbed back onto her balcony.
Assisting in the rescue were Detective Sgt. Bill Carlton, Detective Tim Williamson, and Patrolmen Bill Cassidy and Richard Barthelmess.
Staff at Endicott Green also helped out by keeping neighbors away from where police were stationed.
