Aurora Bridge fatal leap will be reviewed by police

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.

The findings will be submitted to the King County Prosecutor's Office to determine whether a citizen inquest jury should be empaneled to examine the circumstances of Loso's death and whether police contributed to it.

County Executive Ron Sims would make the decision to hold an inquest based on a recommendation from the prosecutor's office.

An inquest is called when the "causes and circumstances of any death" involve a member of any law-enforcement agency in King County while in the performance of an officer's duty, according to county rules.

Whitcomb said the prosecutor's office will review the matter to determine whether it should be classified an in-custody death. If that is the case, prosecutors would determine whether to recommend an inquest, Whitcomb said.

Whitcomb said there are reasons to believe Loso purposefully let go. Loso was "uncommunicative" throughout the episode and gave no indication that he wanted to be saved.

Rich O'Neill, president of the Seattle Police Officers' Guild, said officers were ordered to give statements to homicide detectives. The officers remain on duty, he said.

"The guy was going to jump and they had hands on him before he jumped," O'Neill said, noting that doesn't mean their actions contributed to the death. "Any time anybody dies in police presence, they're going to want to document it."

Compelling the officers to give statements is a precaution, he said, explaining that should allegations of wrongdoing surface later — even years down the road — the officers will be able to refer to their statements.

Loso's brother, Matthew Loso, 38, said Tuesday he wasn't aware that an officer had tried to handcuff his brother and was pleased a review is taking place.

Loso said police might have acted properly, but that he had questions about whether his brother jumped or fell because of intervention.

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.

On Nov. 3, police said Loso threatened to leap about 7:15 a.m. and jumped shortly before 9:30 a.m. Loso landed in a Fremont parking lot.

Normally, "the philosophy of the negotiation team is that we're just going to talk to the guy," said one department source, speaking on condition of anonymity because only official representatives are allowed to speak for the department.

But there is no written policy for handling such situations because exceptions might exist, the source said.

Seattle Times staff reporter

Sara Jean Green contributed to this report.

Steve Miletich: 206-464-3302 or smiletich@seattletimes.com