ALACHUA COUNTY SHERIFF?S OFFICE
STEPHEN M. OELRICH, SHERIFF
P.O.BOX 1210 GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32602
OFFICE (352) 367-4050 ? FAX (352) 374-1816
www.alachuasheriff.org
For Immediate Release:
Today?s Date: December 17, 2004
Prepared By: Lieutenant James Troiano
Release #: 2004-127
Case #: 2004-15951
Incident Date: Thursday, December 16, 2004
Incident Time: 8:46 P.M.
Incident Location: SW 20 Avenue and Interstate 75
Deputy Saves Woman?s Life:
After deputies received a call concerning a woman acting suspiciously on the overpass of
Interstate 75 at SW 20 Avenue, deputies arrived to find a 39-year-old Gainesville woman
threatening to commit suicide by jumping from the bridge. Deputies and FHP Troopers quickly
closed north and southbound traffic on Interstate 75 and engaged the woman in conversation. As
deputies were negotiating with the woman, Deputy David Rodriguez grabbed a rope from his
patrol car and tied one end to his body as he approached the woman. After he was able to
successfully develop a rapport with the suicidal woman, deputies tied the other end of the rope to
the bridge and acted as rope tenders. During his dialogue with the woman, she left the bridge
and climbed out onto a sign support. Deputy Rodriguez followed and prepared to act while trying
to talk the woman back onto the bridge.
When the woman started to jump, Deputy Rodriguez
jumped and grabbed her body as the other deputies tending to the rope immediately pulled them
toward the bridge. Alachua County Fire Rescue personnel quickly positioned an ambulance
under the deputy and woman and they lowered to another deputy standing on top of the
ambulance. The woman was secured and lowered to the ground.
The woman was taken to a local mental health receiving facility. She was not injured during the
incident. The traffic on Interstate 75 was closed for approximately one hour.
Deputy Rodriguez?s heroic actions are credited with saving the woman?s life.
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