By Alan Shaw
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Fla.
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled a man to safety after he sat on the edge of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge following a car chase on Sept. 12, 2020.
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells is praising deputies who pulled a man off the edge of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge following a car chase last week.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, a deputy attempted to pull over a 23-year-old man driving a pickup east on State Road 64 near Cypress Creek Boulevard shortly before 2 a.m. Sept. 12 on suspicion of driving under the influence. After refusing to stop the driver pulled over, then drove at the deputy twice before driving off.
Deputies found the vehicle on S.R. 64 and pursued it. The pickup ended driving north onto Interstate 75, then Interstate 275 before it stopped at the top of the Sunshine Skyway with damaged tires.
The driver got out of the pickup and sat on the edge of the bridge with his legs hanging over. Deputies talked to the man in an attempt to stop him from jumping off the 400-foot-high span.
While a detective spoke to the man another detective was able to approach him from behind and pulled him off the edge of the bridge.
The man was arrested on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, DUI and fleeing to elude. He is in custody at the Hillsborough County jail.
https://www.facebook.com/ManateeSheriff/posts/10158623340535502
©2020 Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Fla.