Shenandoah officer rescues 11-year-old during mental health crisis on I-45 overpass
By: -----
Shenandoah, TX - Shenandoah Police officer Patrick Reade's body camera was rolling as he started running after hearing a call regarding an 11-year-old girl in the main lanes of I-45 just before the afternoon rush hour back on Oct. 17.
"Stop! Stop! I'll wait here, just come talk to me," Reade said to the girl in the body camera footage shared.
"Right place, right time," said Reade in an exclusive interview. "Fortunately, I was able to make what I hope was the right decision."
Police said the girl bailed out of her mother's car while turning into a hospital for mental health treatment. She then crossed the feeder lanes before walking against traffic in the southbound lanes to the overpass at Highway 242.
"I'm not going to do anything, I'm not going to do anything," said Reade during the encounter. "I want to talk, come here, you're not in trouble, you're not in trouble."
The girl, who's blurred in the video to protect her identity, got on top of the guardrail with her feet dangling as Reade pleaded with her.
"Trying to be a little more empathetic and sympathetic, I think, may have delayed her slightly," Reade told us.
It eventually ended as Reade inched closer and closer.
"I'm begging you, please come here and talk to me," said Reade just before quickly pulling the girl to safety.