Full Notification

Pico Rivera Station Deputies Life Saving Efforts Prevents Suicide Attempt by Young Woman

On Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at approximately 11:09 a.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Pico Rivera station deputy personnel responded to the railroad bridge at Rivera Road and Passons Boulevard, regarding a call of a young woman on the bridge possibly trying to commit suicide.
 
Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel were summoned to the scene and staging while Deputy Cuauhtemoc Gonzalez coordinated the clearance of traffic around the bridge crossing.  Deputies Michael Stocz and Brandon Longoria made their way onto the railroad crossing and approached the teenager, who was leaning over a 25-foot drop to the street below.  Deputy Daniel Padilla approached from the opposite side of the bridge.
 
The woman was holding onto the railway with her hands, her back facing the railroad tracks, arms extended behind her.  After waiting for a train to pass, Deputies Stocz and Longoria approached, asking her if they could move closer to talk to her.  When they were within 50-feet, Deputy Stocz was able to talk to her for approximately ten minutes, and developed a rapport with her.
 
The woman told Deputy Stocz she wanted to end her life because of the recent passing of close friend.  She then threw a piece of folded paper from her pocket onto the railroad tracks, and Deputy Stocz seized the opportunity to ask her if he could read the note (which was subsequently determined to be a suicide note).  When she agreed, this allowed him to move within a few feet of her.
 
At this point the young woman had her arms fully extended, eyes closed, and her face was looking upwards.  Deputy Stocz lunged forward and grabbed both of her arms.  Deputy Longoria moved quickly to assist Deputy Stocz, and they were able to pull her over the railing and on to the ground, where she was detained. 
 
The young woman was transported by the Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel to a local hospital for further evaluation and professional care services.
 
The entire rescue was captured on video, and highlighted the team work and dedication of Pico Rivera station deputy personnel in their life saving effort while placing themselves in harm’s way.  Sheriff Jim McDonnell praised the Deputies’ actions by saying “Every day, our deputies perform acts of quiet courage and compassion that are rarely seen and almost never captured on video. This is a positive reminder of the commitment that law enforcement makes every day to save the lives of others”.
 
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Pico Rivera Station at (562) 949-2421.  If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
 
 
Video footage of the incident available at (copy and paste link onto browser bar): https://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment/videos/1797400266953545/