WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) -- The search for a man who jumped off a Wrightsville Beach bridge early this morning ended with a man in jail. Joseph Compton, 28, of Wilmington, is charged with jumping from a state bridge, resist, delay and obstruction.
Police say about 4 a.m. an officer saw Compton jump off the Banks Channel bridge. When he did not see Compton in the water, he called in fire and EMS. A friend said he saw Compton surface and disappear.
Eventually the Coast Guard and SABLE helicopter joined the search, but called it off after a couple of hours. As crews left an officer saw a man fitting the jumper's description walking across the bridge. It was Compton.
He is out of jail under a $300 unsecured bond.
Bridge
First of all i don't think many boaters are out on the water at 3am. Secondly how many of you did something back in college that you wouldn't do today. Heck if you go out to Masonboro on any given Saturday, in the summer, you will find much worse illegal activity than anyone jumping off a bridge.
Some of you need to get off your high horse and come back to earth. Yes valuable resources were used and the kid may need to remimburse the the town; however, I'm pretty sure it was pretty similar to some of their training excercises that are carried out (or should be carried out) on a regular basis.
So, some clown jumps off a
So, some clown jumps off a bridge. If stupidity was a crime, there would be a lot more inmates. I really don't see what the crime is. If it is because rescue personnel had to risk their lives to look for the dummy, that is what they get paid to do and know what the dangers are when they choose this type of work.
Dear Albert
Please do a Google search on "Jump off bridge hit boat." The first story I found was from June, where a teen hit a boat, paralyzing himself and causing severe injury to an occupant in the boat.
You will also find articles about people jumping off bridges and then being run down by boats.
It's illegal for a reason, Einstein.
Honestly
Honestly, if you were twice as smart as you are now, you'd be absolutely stupid. I think you're trying to tie 1st place with the guy who jumped off the bridge.
(1) It's against the law to jump off the bridge. Period.
(2) It ties up traffic trying to get over the bridge.
(3) It ties up rescuers who could be out saving someone else in a REAL life saving incident.
(4) My taxes pay for STUPID "rescue" incidents like this that didn't have to happen. It causes my taxes to increase for no good reason.
(5) There have been several people who died lately because of jumping or diving off bridges. The same thing could happen here.
(6) This idiot takes a stupid, needless risk of breaking his neck and perhaps being paralyzed for the rest of his life. He also risks landing on top of someone else who may be passing UNDER the bridge.
Are you always this stupid, or are you making a special effort today?
Such hostility
Such hostility GuestLee......did you have an unhappy childhood? I just feel that if somebody wants to act stupid, like jumping off a bridge, he/she should be free to do so. Too much government meddling in our lives already.
Impossible
Nope, you're barking up the wrong tree. I had a great childhood.
I do agree with you that everyone has a right to be stupid; some people just abuse the privilege.
YOU don't see what the crime was?
It's illegal because other, innocent people pass UNDER that bridge in boats, idiot! Anyone drunk or stupid enough to jump off the bridge is drunk or stupid enough to fail to notice the person in the kayak passing below.
so , lets do nothing to the
so , lets do nothing to the "dummy" and encourage others to jump off the bridge. .. the rescue people can then spend less time rescuing others that need their help that did not act foolishly..
It is illegal to jump off a
It is illegal to jump off a bridge, ESPECIALLY in Wrightsville Beach, where the cops will pull you over in a new mustang for looking "suspicious." That in itself is why he got the $300 fine.
I think the $300 was bond.
I think the $300 was bond. He hasn't been fined yet. I am sure by the time they finish trumping up charges, his fines will amount to much more than his bond.
Bond/Fine
I think he should have to pay for all of the extra effort that was brought in to save his sorry butt. Helicopter, boats, you name it. He should have to pay manpower and equipment restitution to every single agency that was involved.And then fine him the Court costs.
He didn't call them. He
He didn't call them. He jumped off the bridge, swam ashore and walked away totally uninjured. Mass over-reaction on the cop's part.
Yes He Did.........
"call them" when he jumped from the bridge. At that point he "called" because he just broke the law. No matter how minor you think it is, he broke the law and summoned police. And, had he actually been in need of help and the cop's did nothing, you'd be on here blasting them for that too.