By VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
The body of an elderly male resident of Mesquite was found floating in the pond at Hafen Park on Friday afternoon, April 5. The man had apparently drowned.
After a full police investigation, the Mesquite Police Department (MPD) ruled the incident a suicide.
As of the print deadline for this edition, the man’s name had not yet been released by the County Coroner’s office.
According to MPD public information officer Sergeant Wyatt Oliver, an emergency dispatch was sent out in response to a call from a passerby in the park who had seen the body in the water. That call came in at about 2:30 pm that day.
Shortly after the first call, a second dispatch call come in, this time from a family member of the man. The family member was concerned about the man’s safety, Oliver said.
Both police and rescue personnel from Mesquite Fire and Rescue responded quickly to the scene.
“They pulled him out of the water and started lifesaving measures,” Oliver said.
But the man could not be revived.
“Based on all the information we had from witness statements at the park and other statements from family members, we were able to determine that it was suicide,” Oliver said.
The reason for the suicide was unknown.
Oliver stated that the loss of even one life to suicide is tragic for the community. “There are so many different reasons why people choose to end their life; whether it is mental illness, or physical illness or whatever it is,” he said. “But however you look at it, one is too many.”
“We just always encourage people who are thinking those thoughts to seek help from family, friends, loved ones or mental health professionals who can get them through their hard times,” Oliver added.
The state of Nevada has established 988 as a Suicide and Crisis Lifeline where people who are struggling can call 24 hours per day to receive immediate help and support.
