Edhat Staff
Patrol Officer and Co-Response Team Prevent Tragedy on Train Tracks
On January 2, 2024, around 4:30 p.m., a Santa Barbara Police Officer was conducting an area check at the Amtrak Train Station, in the 200 block of State Street, when they noticed an adult female acting erratically.
The woman was reportedly jumping on and off the train tracks, states Sergeant Ethan Ragsdale.
The officer tried talking with the female to get her off the tracks due to an approaching a train when the female laid down on the tracks and refused to move.
The officer then jumped onto the platform near the tracks, grabbed the female with the assistance of an Amtrak employee, and pulled her to safety just before the train approached, said Ragsdale.
The officer, concerned for the mental well-being of the female, contacted the Santa Barbara Police Department’s Co-Response Team, which is made up of an officer and a licensed clinician who specialize in responding to individuals needing immediate mental health resources and evaluations.
The Co-Response Team determined the female needed immediate mental health treatment, and a mental health hold (5150 Welfare & Institutions Hold) was authored, according to Ragsdale.
The female was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for further treatment and evaluation.
“Thankfully, there were no reported injuries because of the quick actions taken by the patrol officer, the Amtrak employee, and the swift arrival of the Co-Response Team,” said Ragsdale.
Way to go, Officer! However, it really is tragic how we’ve allowed so many mentally disabled people roam the streets for so long. Let’s get it together, USA. Universal healthcare (including mental) must be a priority.
@ SACJON-(The guy with an opinion to share of every topic) The ACLU will not allow those with serious mental health issues to be incarcerated at mental health clinics/insitutions- They have “rights…” So they will continue to wander our RXR tracks, deficate on our sidewalks, beaches and business alcoves, yell and assault those on our sidewalks and become public safety problems that fire and police personnel have to deal with daily.When Reagan was the CA governor, he was forced to close all mental insitutions or the State of CA would be sued by the ACLU in Class Action law suits… That was a lifetime ago. The Democrats have been in control of this State and the vagrant/homeless/mental illness/drug addicted problem for 30 years…. and the problem has only become worse… Maybe SACJON should run for oublic office as he has all the ANSWERS to every issue that comes up on this site.
Coast, Sac commended the officer for doing a good job, saving someone’s life and such, yet you want to immediately bash him for that and make a snarky comment like, the guy with an opinion to share of every topic? Wth is wrong with you? I think you are in dire need of a mental health evaluation yourself.
The ACLU has nothing to do with this. This was an order signed by two presidents to cut funding to our mental health programs. Bush and Clinton. I had family working at Camarillo State Hospital, so I know this.
Its amusing how you state your beloved Gipper was “forced” to sign that? You need to do some reading pal. You’re way off course. Yeah, make this political. Seems right up your ally. I’m defending Sac on my own accord because your statement is just toxic and rude af
COAST – LOL, like you don’t have something to say on most articles here? I should be ridiculed for having opinions? You absolutely missed my point, by the way. I’m not talking about forced rehab. That’s someone else here who wants to herd the homeless into asylums. I’m talking about mental health care that people can afford so their friends and family members can be treated instead of left to wander the streets.
Explain to us why countries in Europe or other civilized nations don’t have mentally ill homeless people wandering around like we do? The answer is what you hate most.