SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami-Dade Police officers came to the rescue of a man who had been reported missing and who found himself dangling from a Palmetto Expressway ramp in Southwest Miami-Dade.
Dramatic cellphone video posted by Only in Dade captured MDPD officer Randy Pineyro grabbing the 19-year-old man as he dangled from the overpass, at around 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The officers involved in the rescue discussed the heart-stopping moments with reporters, Monday afternoon.
“We prevented a tragedy from occuring, that’s the short end of it,” said MDPD Lt. William Romero.
Police said they received a call about a man in distress in the area of the expressway near Bird Road.
Responding officers arrived to discover the man had crawled off the ledge of a large concrete wall and was barely hanging on.
Body camera video released on Monday by Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez III showed the officers’ tense rescue efforts.
It shows Pineyro diving to grab the man’s arm.
“He’s springing into action, completely selflessly, determined to save that young man’s life,” said MDPD Sgt. Cheryl Diaz.
The police officers then worked together to pull the man to safety.
“Mental health is a big issue affecting the community, and hopefully everyone is aware,” said Romero.
For MDPD Sgt. Cheryl Diaz, it was a moment when her professional duties and her personal life collided.
“Somebody very close to me unfortunately killed themselves, and it’s a trauma. The family never gets over it,” she said.
Diaz said the man was sweaty and nearly slipped from her grip, but everyone involved had a role to play.
I’m extremely proud, although not surprised, of the officers’ heroic acts to save a human life. I’m also grateful for the citizen video & body cam footage which allows us a glimpse of what is so often unnoticed, our finest in action safeguarding life & protecting our community! https://t.co/wcOag3LDMn
— Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@AFreddyRamirez) August 31, 2020
It was a role Ramirez recognized in a tweet posted Monday afternoon. It reads, “I’m extremely proud, although not surprised, of the officers’ heroic acts to save a human life. I’m also grateful for the citizen video & body cam footage which allows us a glimpse of what is so often unnoticed, our finest in action safeguarding life & protecting our community!”
Romero and Diaz said the rescue and its happy outcome showcase why they’re law enforcement officers.
“The last six months, our community and ourselves, everybody in the country, has been having a difficult time. Luckily, we were able to bring this man and save this man’s life and give him the treatment he needed,” said Romero.
“Thanks to the efforts of everyone here, we were able to pull him to safety, and I personally am extremely grateful I didn’t have to watch another person die,” said Diaz.
The man was taken to a local hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
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