Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau

50 -year-old white female (Lives in Tampa, name withheld)

Deputy Damon Laney
Hire Date: 02/10/2012
Age: 37

What:
A Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputy pulled a woman off the ledge of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, likely saving her life.

When:
The incident occurred about 11:50 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

Where:
The incident occurred at the top span of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge located at I-275, in Hillsborough County.

Why/How:

According to deputies, Deputy Damon Laney was driving to an off duty work detail, northbound across the top span of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at about 11:50 p.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

Deputy Laney noticed a car parked on the roadway along the side of the bridge with its hazards on. Deputy Laney turned on his emergency lights and started to pull behind the vehicle. The driver, a 50-year-old Tampa woman exited the vehicle and ran towards the outside barrier wall of the bridge.  As she attempted to climb over the wall and jump, Deputy Laney having no time to exit his vehicle, used his vehicle to trap her legs between the push bumper and the wall. When Deputy Laney exited his vehicle, the woman freed herself and was completely over the wall with the exception of one arm.  Deputy Laney grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back over the wall where she continued to struggle until being handcuffed.

She was not injured during the incident. 

Deputy Laney detained the woman while she cried and said, “just, let me jump.”

The woman later informed Deputy Laney she was upset over personal issues.

Deputies took the woman into protective custody under the Baker Act.

Deputy Laney is currently assigned to the Patrol Operations DUI Unit, he has been with the agency for 5 years.