Man Nails Himself To Cross

[bloodrayne]

'No crime' seen in man nailing himself to cross

HARTLAND - Somerset County Sheriff Barry DeLong said Monday that no charges will be filed against a Hartland man who nailed himself to a cross last Thursday evening."There is no crime here," said DeLong.

The 23-year-old man apparently was attempting to commit suicide. Police said he appeared delusional and told them he had been "seeing pictures of God on the computer." He told them he had not seen the movie "The Passion of the Christ," which violently depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus.

Somerset County Lt. Pierre Boucher said the man took two pieces of wood, nailed them together in the form of a cross and placed them on his living-room floor. He attached a note saying "suicide" to the wood and then proceeded to nail one of his hands to the makeshift cross using a 14-penny nail and a hammer.

"When he realized that he was unable to nail his other hand to the board, he called 911," said Boucher. It was unclear whether the man was seeking assistance for his injury or help in nailing his other hand down.

Hartland Fire Department members responded, said Boucher, and cut off the wood while it was still attached to the man's hand. The wood and the victim were taken to Sebasticook Valley Hospital, where the nail was removed.

Boucher said he did not know whether the man received further treatment.

Sgt. Milford Rice and Deputy Michael Knight were the responding officers.