Columbia, CA…This morning, just after midnight, our office received a tip of a male who was threatening to jump off a local bridge. With the aid of CHP, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office and Angels Camp Police Department, both the Stevenot and Parrotts Ferry bridges were checked. Neither the man nor his vehicle were located at that time. Continued checks of the bridges were conducted throughout the early morning hours.

Just after three the same morning, the man’s car was found near the Parrotts Ferry bridge. A check of the area was conducted but the man was not found.

At 7am, our Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, deputies, boat patrol deputies and deputies from Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office began another search of the area.

Around 10am, the man was finally located standing on the Parrotts Ferry bridge. Deputy Long negotiated with the man for about ten minutes. The man attempted to jump from the bridge to the water approximately 150 feet down but was grabbed through the railing by deputy Long. Deputy Long was able to hold the man as he dangled for approximately 30 seconds. Calaveras County Deputy Markovitz came over and helped. Deputy Long, Deputy Markovitz and members of the TCSO Search and Rescue Team pulled the man over the railing to safety. The man was taken to the hospital but sustained no injuries.

We want to thank all of our allied agencies and the heroic work of all law enforcement personnel today. Your bravery, dedication and persistence saved a life.

Photo Credit: Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office UAV Team.