Volusia deputy helps person in distress on ISB bridge
By: -----
Volusia County, FL - Body camera footage released by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office shows a deputy pulling over in the early morning hours to speak with an individual found standing in distress on the ISB bridge.
On Saturday, October 17, shortly before 1 a.m., the video shows a deputy driving across the bridge when he spotted a person standing by the outer railing. The deputy immediately stopped his patrol vehicle, stepped out, and initiated a conversation from a safe distance.
“I’m here for you, dude. I’m here to listen,” the deputy can be heard saying in the footage, asking if the person wanted to talk. He repeatedly reassured the individual that they were not a bother.
During the interaction, the deputy attempted to connect with the individual by sharing his own background, noting that he had previously worked as a lifeguard for 15 years to save people. He emphasized that his current role in law enforcement is to assist people on their worst days.
The deputy added that if he had been off-duty in his personal truck, he still would have stopped in the middle of the road to do the exact same thing. The deputy acknowledged the person’s pain, stating, “It’s hard to see down the road when you’re going through something, and you’re hurting, man.”
Shortly after 1:10 a.m., the individual stepped away from the ledge and walked safely alongside several law enforcement officers who had arrived.
The initial responding deputy then approached the individual, and they shared a hug.