At 1843 HRS, six companies of Los Angeles firefighters, one battalion chief officer command team, one battalion EMS captain, and two LAFD rescue ambulances, under the direction of Battalion Chief Richard E. Markota, respond to the report of a jumper at 15720 W. Ventura Blvd. in the Sherman Oaks area. The first LAFD rescue on the scene reported an adult female on the sixth floor balcony of a six story office building.
Attempting to provide additional information to arriving fire companies and law enforcement personnel, a firefighter/paramedic proceeded up the stairs to the sixth floor to gain a better prospective of the individual attempting to jump. As the firefighter/paramedic remained a safe distant from the victim, an LAPD officer arrived and started a dialogue with the female in an effort to prevent her from jumping from the balcony.
Without a warning, the female slid under a railing in an attempt to throw herself off the balcony. As this was happening, the LAPD officer lunged for the woman and managed to grab hold of her clothing, with the woman in his grasp the officer began to slip under the railing. Realizing the precarious situation that both were in, the firefighter/paramedic leaped from behind the door and managed to grab the police officer’s belt and prevented both the officer and the female from a definite fall.
The firefighter/paramedic suffered a strained shoulder and was transported to Northridge Hospital in good condition. The Los Angeles Police Department took the female into custody and they are investigating the incident.