PD officers talk teen off Newport bridge ledge

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Menifee Police officers Friday talked a male juvenile off the north ledge of the Newport Road freeway bridge after the boy, age 14, threatened to jump, authorities said.

An officer passing by on the 215 Freeway bridge saw the boy and quickly messaged for help at 10:36 a.m., said Captain Eddie Gutierrez. Officers responded and convinced the boy to come off the ledge at 11:02. and was not injured.

Gutierrez said the boy appeared on the bridge shortly after multiple police and fire vehicles left the site, where they had watched a procession of fallen firefighter Josh Bischof from Evans Brown Mortuary to a facility in Murrieta – the second funeral procession in two days. CHP briefly closed the southbound lanes of the 215 Freeway while the boy was on the bridge ledge.

“The Menifee Police department is grateful for the officers’ actions and their recognition of the juvenile’s mental distress,” MPD wrote in a news release. “We want to remind everyone that it is OK to talk about mental health, and OK to seek help for yourselves and for others. Anyone needing help or seeking help for another can call us at 951-723-1500. We are here for you.”