Deputies Credited With Saving Life of Juvenile Who Jumped from Fourth Floor of Parking Garage

Two Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies are credited with pulling a juvenile to safety after he jumped over the side of a parking garage in Deer Park and dangled four stories above the ground Tuesday night, police said

The incident occurred after Deputy Christopher Perley noticed a suspicious vehicle on the fifth floor of a parking garage in the 21400 block of West Lake Cook Road at about 9 p.m. Tuesday. Two juveniles were inside and one admitted to smoking marijuana, Detective Christopher Covelli said in a press release.

Police called their parents and one left with his parents while the parents of the other juvenile drove to the fourth floor of the parking garage to ”have further discussion,” Covelli said. He is accused of “committing a battery to his mother” and then fleeing the vehicle.

“ The juvenile then jumped over the side of the fourth floor of the parking garage. He held onto the ledge while his body dangled four stories above the ground,” Covelli said. “The juvenile began making suicidal statements.”

Perley and Deputy Tina Cora immediately attempted to pull the juvenile from the exterior of the parking garage, according to the news release. The juvenile actively resisted their attempts and tried to break away. The deputies were eventually able to pull the juvenile to safety.

He became combative and was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. One of the deputies was transported to an area hospital with possible broken bones.

Charges against the juvenile are pending.

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