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Police prevent upset man from jumping off Moe's restaurant
Moore Web
Gary Thomas Moore Jr.

            A man who police said huffed paint, then climbed on top of a local restaurant and threatened to jump, had been having domestic problems with a woman, according to reports.

            Gary Thomas Moore Jr., 29, Shale Way, Metter, climbed on top of Moe's Southwest Grill Saturday night around  9:40 p.m. and threatened to jump, said Statesboro Police Capt. Scott Brunson.

            Moore had been "huffing paint," he said.

            Apparently depressed over the domestic issues and impaired by the paint fumes, he climbed a maintenance ladder at the rear of the restaurant on Brannen Street, and attracted attention with threats to jump.

            When police arrived, Moore said he had a box cutter and threatened to cut himself if police tried to come up on the roof with him, Brunson said.

            However, Brunson, trained in negotiations, did climb the ladder to try to persuade Moore to come down. Officers from the Statesboro Police Department's Emergency Response Team, as well as other officers, also responded to assist, he said.

            An unidentified Moe's employee said Monday the restaurant was closed at the time, since Moe's closes at nine p.m. on Saturday night during summer months. The employee also said Moore was not affiliated with the restaurant.

            Moe's owner Jack Slaton was not immediately available for comment Monday.

            Brunson said after about two hours, Moore agreed to climb down from the roof of the single-story building, and "was taken into custody without incident."

            Moore was taken to East Georgia Regional Medical Center for a psychological evaluation before being transported to the Bulloch County Jail, charged with intentionally inhaling paint fumes, disorderly conduct, obstruction and criminal trespass, he said.

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