Officials say the incident happened around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when firefighters were called for a man in distress in the water. They say a marine unit found the man near the Rhode Island Avenue Beach. The man appeared to be conscious but was not actually swimming.
Police say firefighter Dominic Gitto jumped into the water and used a longboard to try to reach the man. They say that this is when the man tried to stab Gitto with a screwdriver.
Authorities say six responders formed a human chain and pulled the man to shore. Responders believe the man was having a psychiatric episode. He was taken into custody and admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit.
The man was identified as 31-year-old Christopher Treadway. He faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Gitto was sent to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia and later released. Officials say the water was 42 degrees at the time.
Photo by Atlantic City Police Department Drone Pilot Sgt. Chris Miller
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