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A sheriff’s lieutenant, dressed as Mrs. Claus, was in the right place at the right time, to save a woman’s life.
Lt. Tabatha Merrell was wearing a Mrs. Claus costume with a dress, glasses, white wig and boots when she noticed a woman hanging over the railing of a bridge in Fredericksburg, Virginia, WRC reported.
Merrell had been on her way home from the Public Safety Santa Run Tuesday night, crossing the Falmouth Bridge.
“I saw that she had one leg over, and she had her whole upper body over,” Merrell told WRC. “So I activated my emergency equipment, I got on the radio and I notified dispatch that I was still in costume and I needed some uniformed officers out there to assist.”
She did two U-turns and got to the woman in time with some help from Sgt. Aimee Lynch from the Fredericksburg Police Department, who was also on the way home from the run but without the festive costume, WUSA reported.
The thing is, both Merrell and Lynch typically take a different way home, Fredericksburg Police Chief Brian Layton said in a news release, according to WUSA. “Call it divine intervention or fate, I truly believe these officers were meant to take the route they did and help save this woman’s life. I applaud them both for flawlessly utilizing their crisis intervention skills.”
The entire rescue was captured on a police body camera.
News Release: Mrs. Claus Spreads more than just Christmas Cheer in Fredericksburg; She Saved a Life Last night just after 8:00 p.m., Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant T. Merrell was driving home after playing the part of Mrs. Claus for the Public Safety Santa Run when she saw a young woman on the Falmouth Bridge bending over the railing looking down. Something didn’t feel right to Lieutenant Merrell, so she turned her vehicle around to check on the young woman. After doing two U-turns, Lieutenant Merrell found the woman in the same spot with one leg hanging over the bridge. Lieutenant Merrell immediately called for assistance over her police radio. Still dressed from head to toe in her Mrs. Claus dress, boots, glasses, and wig, Lieutenant Merrell approached the woman and started using her crisis intervention skills. Fredericksburg Police Patrol Sergeant A. Lynch was also driving home after working the Santa Run and pulled over to assist Lieutenant Merrell. FSO Lieutenant Merrell and FPD Sergeant Lynch worked as a team and were able to safely pull the 25-year-old woman off the railing. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she is receiving the mental health assistance she needs. “The most amazing part of this story is that Lieutenant Merrell and Sergeant Lynch typically take a different route home. Call it divine intervention or fate, I truly believe these officers were meant to take the route they did and help save this woman’s life. I applaud them both for flawlessly utilizing their crisis intervention skills,” said Police Chief Layton. Fredericksburg Sheriff Foster echoed Chief Layton’s sentiment and stated, “This was remarkable teamwork between the Fredericksburg Sheriff’s Office and Police Department and a true Christmas miracle.” The saying goes, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” but in reality, it’s the most stressful and overwhelming time of the year for many. If you or anyone you know are struggling with mental health or having suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to receive assistance from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. For access to mental health services, contact the Rappahannock Area Community Service Board at 540-373-6876. ###
Posted by Fredericksburg Police Department on Wednesday, December 14, 2022
The 25-year-old woman who was in crisis was taken to a hospital where she’s getting mental health assistance, WUSA reported.
Note: If you or someone you know is thinking of harming themselves, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free support via the Lifeline by dialing 988. For more about risk factors and warning signs, visit the organization’s official website.
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