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Clearwater Bridge Jumper Hasn't Been Found

CLIFF MCBRIDE / The Tampa Tribune

Divers searched the base of the Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater for a man who reportedly jumped.

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2007

CLEARWATER - Authorities this morning resumed their search for a 25-year-old man they were told jumped off the Memorial Causeway Bridge early Sunday.

Craig Hill of Clearwater was with a friend when they decided to jump off the bridge about 2:35 a.m., said Elizabeth Daly-Watts, Clearwater's public safety spokeswoman. But after he saw Hill jump, the friend, Todd Payne, 20, decided against it and called call 911, Daly-Watts said.

The reason for the jump, Payne told authorities, is that they wanted notoriety, Daly-Watts said. They wanted to be, in Payne's words, "king of Clearwater," she said.

Hill, a former Palm Harbor resident, was living and working at the Tropical Island Hotel, Daly-Watts said. Payne's address is 622 Poinsettia Ave., Daly-Watts said.

Hill and Payne were hanging out when they decided to go for a walk and then to jump together before Payne backed out, Daly-Watts said. When authorities arrived, Payne had to be taken into custody under the state's Baker act, which allows for someone to be held for psychiatric evaluation up to 72 hours.

Detectives do not suspect foul play, she said.

Clearwater Fire & Rescue was expected to do a full-scale search this morning, using divers and sonar technology underwater and boats on the water's surface to scan the coastline, she said.

On Sunday, several agencies took part in the search for Hill.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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