Ferris Police save man from suicide attempt

FERRIS – The Ferris Police Department responded to a welfare concern Sunday afternoon at around 2 p.m. and thwarted a potential suicide incident.

Ferris Police Officer G. Davis was called to a welfare concern after being alerted by dispatch of a man walking northbound on Interstate 45 in Ferris.

Davis located the man, whose name was not released, on the Interstate 45 bridge above 5th Street. During the exchange, Davis and a good Samaritan at the location removed the man from the bridge.

It was reported the man was straddling the side of the bridge with his right leg over the edge of the bridge with a confused look on his face.

Davis began speaking to the man in a loud voice due to passing traffic to communicate with him.

The man was not verbally responding to Davis, and Davis continued talk while taking steps toward the suspect in case he might attempt to jump from the bridge.

The suspect then placed his left leg over the ledge and began to hang from the side of the bridge. Davis and the other man then grabbed the suspect prior to his letting go of the bridge to jump.

The suspect was taken by police to a local bank where his family was parked. The family advised police the man had not taken his medication in several months and had been diagnosed with mental illness.

The suspect was transported to Dallas Behavioral Healthcare Hospital in DeSoto for further assistance.