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JERRY ROBERTS

Northampton fire and police personnel retire their search of the Connecticut River at the Sportsman's Marina boat ramp after a report that someone had jumped from the Coolidge Bridge Tuesday afternoon.

NORTHAMPTON - Police and firefighters searched the section of the Connecticut River under the Calvin Coolidge Bridge for about two hours on afternoon Tuesday after reports of a man possibly jumping off the span.

Police stressed that no one had actually seen the man jump, though some witnesses described him with his foot on the railing about 3:45 p.m., according to scanner reports. Nothing indicating a person had landed in the water was found during the search, which included a Fire Department boat and state police helicopter, said Northampton Police Detective Sgt. Anne McMahon.

Officers began the boat search after arriving at the bridge and being unable to locate anyone matching the description given by passersby who called 911. Witnesses described the man as being disoriented and possibly intoxicated, according to scanner reports.

The search was called off about 5:30 p.m.

- BOB DUNN