Deputy’s Skill, Patience, Compassion and Training Stop Man’s Jump Onto I-5 at South Everett

June 16, 2013

Police Blotter

The deputy remained calmly talking with the man who moved along the outside of the bridge

The deputy remained calmly talking with the man who moved along the outside of the bridge

The deputy spent more than an hour talking with the young man

The deputy spent more than an hour talking with the young man

The man is hanging onto the outside of the pedestrian overpass

The man is hanging onto the outside of the pedestrian overpass

The deputy helps the man back over the bridge and onto the walkway

The deputy helps the man back over the bridge and onto the walkway

Early Father’s Day morning both directions of Interstate 5 in south Everett were shut down as a young man climbed onto the outside of the pedestrian bridge over I-5 north of 128th. The incident happened shortly before 6:00am. Southbound I-5 traffic was diverted at Everett Mall Way and Northbound I-5 was diverted off 128th. Several dozen cars were stopped on southbound I-5 itself, unable to turn around as the incident played out. For more than an hour, a Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputy listened to the young man who at times hung over the freeway with just 3 fingers. I was nearby and able to hear as the deputy calmly talked with the young man. Alternately distraught, angry and sad the man several times made threats to jump. The deputy calmly listened, speaking with the man and following him back and forth across the bridge. After more than an hour the man agreed to come off the bridge and as he did the deputy gently helped him back over the fence to the cheers of motorists who had been stopped on I-5 and were watching from below. No one was hurt, the young man was taken to get the proper help and motorists who were delayed were able to get back on their way. I was honored to shake the deputy’s hand who spent that time talking with the young man. Thanks and a Happy Father’s Day to that deputy and all of the other deputies, police, troopers and firefighters who made this story have a positive outcome.

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