Man Who Alledgedly Tried To Throw Wife From Bridge Pleads Not Guilty

   
A Mill Valley man who fell into the Bay while allegedly trying to throw his wife off the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge during an argument pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, domestic violence and mayhem Friday, according
to San Mateo County prosecutors.
           
Xavier Jarrell McClinton, 47, was ordered to return to court on Feb. 26 for a preliminary hearing, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
           
McClinton was driving east with his wife of eight years on Dec. 13 around 2:25 p.m. when the couple began to argue, according to prosecutors.
           
During the argument, McClinton allegedly drove his car off the side of the roadway in an apparent attempt to crash it into the Bay, Wagstaffe said.
           
When the car hit a barrier and came to a stop, McClinton grabbed his wife, pulled her out of the vehicle and tried to throw her off the bridge into the water, Wagstaffe said.
           
Several motorists who witnessed the incident got out of their vehicles and barely prevented the victim from falling by grabbing her legs, according to Wagstaffe.
           
McClinton fell about 15 feet from the bridge into the Bay and was arrested after the Alameda County Fire Department pulled him from the water.
           
His wife suffered a gash stretching from the side of her mouth to her cheek that required several stitches to close, Wagstaffe said.
           
According to investigators, McClinton had been showing signs of paranoia over two weeks prior to the attack on his wife. He had apparently said that people were trying to break into his home and kill him, Wagstaffe said.
           
The couple has three young children together, the district attorney said.
           
McClinton is being held without bail.

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