Man Jumps Off Roof Of Florida Hospital Parking Garage

LAKELAND, FL – A man jumped to his death from the roof of a Florida hospital parking garage Thursday night as police tried to convince him not to jump.

The incident happened around 7:35 p.m. at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center in central Florida, according to Robin Tillett of the Lakeland Police Department.

"A Lakeland police officer was made aware of a man acting irrational atop the north edge of the sixth floor of the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center B/C parking garage," she said. "Officers began efforts to communicate with the man out of concern for his safety. He was not responding in a logical manner to efforts made by officers."

Additional officers were also brought in to negotiate with the man.

"After approximately 20 minutes of attempting to communicate with the man, he jumped from the north side of the garage and was fatally injured," she said.

The man was not identified by police pending notification of his next of kin. It was not clear why he jumped.

Tillett said the hospital continued to operate during the incident.