A man from Massachusetts has expressed regret after driving his car into a busy police station, urging onlookers to watch the news, claiming his crash would be “spectacular.”
Robert Scott McCluskey, 58, drove his BMW SUV straight through the front entrance of the Shrewsbury Police Department on Monday afternoon, breaking through two sets of doors and a wall before finally halting at the command center.
“Vehicles were actually sent throughout the front door and into the lobby. There were three dispatchers present during the incident,” noted Shrewsbury Police Chief Kevin Anderson.
As responders worked to extract him from the wreckage, McCluskey pleaded for help, saying, “I’m sorry, please help me, I’m so sorry,” and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, according to police reports.
When asked by an officer if he had driven into the station on purpose, he reportedly replied, “Yes, I’m really sorry, I’m sorry.”
Shortly after the accident, a 911 call was made alerting authorities that McCluskey intended to commit “suicide by cop.”
Witnesses claimed he had mentioned his intentions earlier, saying, “Look at the news, it’s going to be great,” and expressing a desire for the police to “end this.”
There were no injuries to any officers, but police emphasized how narrowly they escaped a serious situation, as a training session had just concluded half an hour prior.
McCluskey now faces multiple charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
If you are in New York City and struggling with thoughts of self-harm or a mental health crisis, you can reach out for free and confidential support by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL. For those outside the NYC area, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline can be reached at 988 or through their website.
