Dash Cam Captures Split Second Cops Catch Woman Before She Jumps off 440' Bridge
The sun had set over La Porte, Texas, on May 25. Sitting precariously on the edge of a bridge, a woman contemplated whether or not the day’s sunset would be her last.
Police officers in the Baytown, Texas, and La Porte area are all too familiar with the Fred Hartman Bridge as a setting for suicide jumps. Police commonly patrol the bridge, hoping to spot people contemplating the lengthy drop before time runs out.
Three officers from the La Porte Police Department responded to a call that a woman was sitting on the edge of the bridge.
Her legs dangled over the railing as officers arrived, with a dash cam capturing how officers managed the situation.
As seen in the video, the officers took a tag-team approach. Officer C. Burnett began talking to the woman, coaxing her to come and talk to him.
Meanwhile, officers identified as C. Cargile and C. Forsythe moved cautiously towards the woman. They wrapped their arms around her and pulled her off the railing, placing her safely on the ground.
The woman, whose name has not been released, was taken to a hospital. La Porte Police Sgt. Bennie Boles said the officers responded appropriately to the woman’s dangerous situation.
“The officers made the right call pulling her off the bridge in case she was still contemplating,” Boles said. “Because even a vehicle driving by can accidentally knock someone off.”
The stranger who made the 911-call about the possible suicide attempt was key in getting this woman some help. “When we get calls, and the person has not jumped, we’ve got a real high success rate,” Boles said.
Kind and thoughtful comments have flooded the police department’s Facebook page, with many people thanking the officers for their help.
Many wrote to express sympathy and condolences for the woman living in such turmoil, and wished her well.
“It breaks my heart anyone would be in such pain to feel they have no other option,” commented a social media user. “Praying for this woman and all the others [who] are hurting.”
Boles praised his officers for their swift actions. He said they felt “excited for the young lady to have another day to move on with her life.”
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