Records: Flanagan had threatened suicide before

Previous visit by police came after former player talked of harming himself

By Justin Fenton -- Sept. 23, 2011

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Former Orioles pitcher Mike Flanagan had threatened to commit suicide several times before taking his life last month, police records show.

In an interview with police detectives, Flanagan's wife described several occasions in which he grabbed a shotgun and walked outside their Sparks home, declaring, "I can't take it anymore." Each time, Alex Flanagan said, she talked her 59-year-old husband back inside.

The account adds to an emerging picture of Flanagan as a troubled man who was struggling with his career and finances and had grappled with suicidal thoughts. The interview with his wife and other details were included in records released Friday by Baltimore County police in response to a Public Information Act request.

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