Wanted man in police custody dies after jumping through third-floor window
CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. (KDKA) — A disturbing video sent to KDKA-TV shows the moments a wanted man jumps to his death from a window in an attempt to get away from police in Fayette County.
Connellsville City police officers were walking the suspect down the steps in handcuffs when he jumped head-first through the third-floor window onto the sidewalk below on Saturday. The video, seen by thousands on social media, is disturbing to watch.
"Watching that video, it was so upsetting," neighbor Bonnie Ray said.
State police said the Connellsville Police Department got a call from the owner of an abandoned building at North Pittsburgh Street and Crawford Avenue on Saturday night for a man squatting inside the building.
"Upon searching the building, Connellsville officers located the actor on the fourth floor of that building. This actor was positively identified as Bernard Geisel," Trooper Kalee Barnhart said.
Geisel was arrested and immediately placed in handcuffs. While in custody, officers learned he was wanted for attempted homicide stemming from an incident on Dec. 15, when he allegedly attacked another man with a crowbar in a convenience store parking lot.
When making their way down the steps with Geisel, the video catches the moment when he gets away from cops and plunges head-first through the third-floor stairwell window.
"He was taken to Highlands Hospital and later transported to Frick Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased," Barnhart said.
Witnesses said it was very traumatic, and something they won't forget.
"I don't know what he was thinking, what was going on, why he would plunge himself through that window," Ray said. "It's very sad. I feel bad for his parents, if he had kids, brothers, sisters."
State police said his death investigation is still active.
