Police Officer, Bystanders Pull Woman Off Newport Road Freeway Overpass

Riverside Police say that Officer Jennifer Brandt was in her marked vehicle when she spotted a woman trying to jump off the freeway overpass in Menifee. Image courtesy: Riverside Police Department.

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A woman who attempted to leap from a freeway overpass in Menifee was pulled back from the precipice by multiple bystanders, including a Riverside Police school resource officer, the Riverside Police Department reported Wednesday.

Officer Jennifer Brandt was in the area of Newport Road and the 215 Freeway in Menifee on Monday afternoon, when she saw a woman attempting to jump over the waist-high guardrail above the northbound lanes of the freeway, according to a police press release.

“The female’s right leg was over the rail and two bystanders were attempting to hold her back as she was lunging forward,” Sgt. Marc Dehdashtian said in the news release.

After spotting the woman and good Samaritans, the police officer didn’t hesitate to try to help.

“Officer Brandt immediately exited her patrol car, assessed the situation and took control,” the sergeant said. “[She] quickly grabbed the female by her arms and coordinated the bystander’s efforts.”

After being pulled to safety, the woman was detained pending a mental health evaluation, according to the sergeant.

– City News Service contributed to this report.