THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507090186
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ANGELITA PLEMMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
A 21-year-old woman threatening to jump from a scaffolding attached to the General District Court building on City Hall Avenue was rescued by police Saturday.
The woman, whose name was not released, was walking toward the courthouse with her mother when she took off her shoes and began climbing the southside of the building near a construction site, said Police Sgt. R.F. Ashley.
While attempting to climb the scaffolding's 13 flights of stairs, the woman stopped when she reached the fourth flight and threatened to jump about 35 feet, Ashley said.
Officers were called at 3:55 p.m. after the woman's mother ran inside the building for help. Officer R.S. Norman was the first to arrive at the scene and began scaling the scaffolding while attempting to calm the woman down. When Norman stood two or three steps away, the woman threatened to jump after counting to three. Norman lunged forward and held her to prevent her from jumping just as she had finished counting, Ashley said. Other police and firefighters helped to carry her down the scaffolding to a nearby police cruiser.
Police reported no injuries at the scene. The woman was transported to Norfolk Psychiatric Center for a mental evaluation. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
BILL TIERNAN/Staff
Police and paramedics carry a woman from a scaffolding outside a
Norfolk courthouse. A policeman grabbed her when she threatened to
jump after climbing about 35 feet.
KEYWORDS: SUICIDE ATTEMPT RESCUE by CNB