GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — A Rockland County protester who dangled for hours from the Tappan Zee Bridge has been sentenced to nine months behind bars.
Michael Davitt of Garnerville had been convicted of reckless endangerment and other charges. In November of 2011, Davitt anchored a rope ladder to his van, dropped it over the side of the bridge, unfurled a banner, and stepped down to about 65 feet over the Hudson River. Eastbound traffic on the New York State Thruway came to a standstill. When police started lowering him to boats that were waiting, he dove off and tried to swim away before being captured. He said he was protesting Rockland County government after having been fired from a Rockland County drug counseling job. Davitt was sent to the Westchester County Jail Tuesday. A hearing to determine what he owes in restitution for money spent on emergency services is scheduled for October.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press and WAMC.
