Police rescued a father who was holding his 3-year-old son and threatening suicide as he stood on the railing of a 7-story parking garage in Bethlehem Tuesday.
The man called 911 around 6:45 p.m. and told operators he was standing on the 7th level of the Sands Casino Parking Garage located near Daly Ave and Stefko Boulevard, according to reports.
His call came shortly after the man's wife contacted police to say her husband assaulted her, threw her out of a car and threatened her before taking off with their child, according to officials.
She also told authorities that her husband had threatened suicide before fleeing the scene of the domestic dispute, which took place on the 900 block of Hellertown Road, police said.
When responding officers arrived at Sands' garage, they found the man -- who was visibly upset -- holding the young boy as he stood on the railing, according to authorities.
The officers convinced the man to place his son on the parking deck floor. As he stood back up and began to move forward to jump, the officers sprinted to the man and tackled him to the floor, according to officials.
The child, who was not injured in the incident, was reunited with his mother.
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The boy's father was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem for a mental health evaluation, police said.
Authorities said they did not release the names of those involved as the man has not been charged.
Anyone contemplating suicide is urged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
The incident remains under investigation.
