Baytown Police save the life of suicidal man

May 2, 2008

In the early morning hours of Friday may 2nd 2008, Baytown Police and EMS were notified by a passing motorist that a white male (w/m) was sitting on the railing on the southbound side of the Fred Hartman Bridge (4400 block of north State Hwy 146). Baytown Officers were immediately dispatched to that location and found a distraught w/m at the top of the Bridge. The w/m was standing on a small platform on the other side of the protective railing. Baytown Officer Rene Hinojosa #129 was the first to arrive and saw the w/m facing away from the bridge with his arms outstretched away from his body. Officer Hinojosa started talking to the W/M and began a dialogue. The w/m was upset about a recent break up with his girlfriend and told Officer Hinojosa he was going to kill himself. The w/m was also holding a razor blade and was cutting his left wrist. He did this four or five times. Baytown Sgt. George Drude #77 soon arrived and the two Officers continued talking to the w/m trying to convince him to not jump from the bridge and end his life. Other Officers with the Baytown Police Department completely shut down traffic for southbound Hwy 146. Officers with the La Porte Police Department and Deputies with the Harris County Sheriffs Department shut down traffic for the northbound side of Hwy 146. Baytown Hostage Negotiators Detective Alan Cliburn #121 and Officer JR Miller #118 arrived within minutes and joined with Officer Hinojosa and Sgt Drude. After more then an hour of tense negotiations in a dangerous situation with very high winds, the w/m was convinced to come back over the guardrail at which time he was secured by the courageous Baytown Officers. The w/m was immediately taken by Baytown EMS to the Baytown San Jacinto Hospital for mental evaluation. No charges will be filed.