1 00:00:00,267 --> 00:00:02,101 [warning] 2 00:00:08,809 --> 00:00:13,112 [narrator] In Florida, officers find a shocking crime scene... 3 00:00:14,048 --> 00:00:15,214 [dog barking] 4 00:00:21,055 --> 00:00:22,154 [camera clicking] 5 00:00:25,426 --> 00:00:27,359 [camera clicking] 6 00:00:27,361 --> 00:00:31,764 [Det. Zachary Williams] Tha was my first glance into wha evil really looks like. 7 00:00:32,500 --> 00:00:34,366 Hey! Pull over! 8 00:00:34,368 --> 00:00:40,005 [narrator] ...in Wallingford Connecticut, officers confront an armed man... 9 00:00:40,007 --> 00:00:43,042 [Szeligowski] He was carryin a backpack on his back, and a large rifle case. 10 00:00:44,512 --> 00:00:51,417 [Szeligowski] 11 00:00:51,419 --> 00:00:57,322 [narrator] ...and in Nevada a woman hangs on a bridge 30 feet over a freeway. 12 00:00:57,324 --> 00:00:59,224 [Rafael Rodriguez] 13 00:01:01,629 --> 00:01:03,829 [Rodriguez] I never really considered the risk to myself, 14 00:01:03,831 --> 00:01:05,731 but I was just so focused on her. 15 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:10,402 [Rodriguez] 16 00:01:10,404 --> 00:01:13,138 That's when she whispered, "I'm sorry," 17 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,207 and that's when I thought, this is it, she's gonna let go. 18 00:01:19,013 --> 00:01:20,813 [indistinct police dispatchers] 19 00:01:22,349 --> 00:01:23,882 [officer shouting] Derrick Crawford come outside! 20 00:01:30,224 --> 00:01:34,126 [narrator] In Northern Florida, 40 miles north of Orlando 21 00:01:34,228 --> 00:01:36,028 is the city of Deland. 22 00:01:42,937 --> 00:01:46,138 [Det. Zachary Williams] It's a lot of woods, it's a heavily wooded area. 23 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,609 It's very generational in that area, so families are typically from there. 24 00:01:53,013 --> 00:01:58,350 There's a few calls throughout everybody's career that you just... You never forget, 25 00:01:58,385 --> 00:02:00,919 and this was one a those calls. 26 00:02:02,490 --> 00:02:04,256 [dial tone] 27 00:02:04,358 --> 00:02:06,325 [phone ringing] 28 00:02:10,998 --> 00:02:13,732 [Nick] 29 00:02:13,834 --> 00:02:15,200 [caller] 30 00:02:16,704 --> 00:02:18,036 [Nick] 31 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,942 [caller] 32 00:02:25,946 --> 00:02:28,614 [caller] 33 00:02:30,050 --> 00:02:36,822 [caller] 34 00:02:39,927 --> 00:02:41,160 [caller] 35 00:02:41,228 --> 00:02:42,427 [Nick] 36 00:02:43,130 --> 00:02:48,200 [caller] 37 00:02:48,202 --> 00:02:52,905 [caller] 38 00:02:52,907 --> 00:02:57,709 [Nick] 39 00:02:58,812 --> 00:03:00,946 [busy signal] 40 00:03:00,948 --> 00:03:02,047 [Nick] 41 00:03:05,019 --> 00:03:06,451 [Det. Joshua Mercer] The caller had given, 42 00:03:06,453 --> 00:03:09,021 uh, a name that I was familiar with, which is Ronal Wells, Jr. 43 00:03:09,023 --> 00:03:11,523 He... He identified himself as... As Ronal Wells, Jr. 44 00:03:11,525 --> 00:03:14,626 And in the call notes, it viewed that he had, uh, killed his father, 45 00:03:14,628 --> 00:03:16,528 so everything in the call 46 00:03:16,630 --> 00:03:22,134 was indicative of Ronal Wells, Jr. killing Ronal Wells, Sr. 47 00:03:23,671 --> 00:03:26,004 I was aware of who the people were, 48 00:03:26,006 --> 00:03:28,640 I had a incident that occurr a couple weeks prior 49 00:03:28,742 --> 00:03:31,310 to that event regarding the whole family. 50 00:03:31,312 --> 00:03:35,047 There was a domestic issue where there were some threat made that were conditional, 51 00:03:35,049 --> 00:03:37,015 not really warranting an arrest. 52 00:03:37,017 --> 00:03:40,919 Jr. was the aggressor. There were some threats made 53 00:03:40,921 --> 00:03:42,521 But this call now, it kind of, like, 54 00:03:42,523 --> 00:03:45,090 well, he's been aggressive in the past verbally, 55 00:03:45,092 --> 00:03:47,459 so maybe this has manifeste into somethin' physical. 56 00:03:57,104 --> 00:04:01,240 [dog barking] 57 00:04:08,515 --> 00:04:11,516 [Mercer] As I'm walking up, I'm kinda lookin' for Ronal Wells, Jr., 58 00:04:13,487 --> 00:04:15,320 and as I approach, I see Kolby Parker. 59 00:04:17,791 --> 00:04:21,059 Ronal Wells, Sr. was Kolby Parker's grandfather. 60 00:04:22,763 --> 00:04:24,730 [Mercer] I had met Kolby Parker previously, 61 00:04:24,732 --> 00:04:27,833 I... I did have some minor interaction with him a couple weeks prio 62 00:04:29,903 --> 00:04:32,137 -[dog barking] -Hi. 63 00:04:34,041 --> 00:04:35,607 [Mercer] As I open the door 64 00:04:35,609 --> 00:04:38,744 I can clearly see Ronal Wells, uh,, Sr. laying on the ground. 65 00:04:43,817 --> 00:04:44,816 [Parker] 66 00:04:46,153 --> 00:04:47,653 [Mercer] I saw several stab wounds, 67 00:04:47,754 --> 00:04:49,421 I mean, there was seven or eight stab wounds 68 00:04:49,423 --> 00:04:52,324 that were clearly visible, um, neck and chest. 69 00:04:53,761 --> 00:04:55,827 It was almost to the point that he was unrecognizable. 70 00:05:00,834 --> 00:05:01,733 [Parker] 71 00:05:02,536 --> 00:05:03,235 [Mercer] 72 00:05:03,337 --> 00:05:05,203 [Parker] Yeah. 73 00:05:05,205 --> 00:05:08,106 [Mercer] He had received significant blows from the baseball bat. 74 00:05:09,710 --> 00:05:12,010 I checked various places for a pulse, 75 00:05:12,012 --> 00:05:15,147 it was very evident that he was no longer alive. 76 00:05:16,350 --> 00:05:18,317 [Mercer] 77 00:05:25,626 --> 00:05:26,858 Come out to me, come here. 78 00:05:28,128 --> 00:05:29,261 [Parker] 79 00:05:29,363 --> 00:05:30,261 [Mercer] 80 00:05:32,433 --> 00:05:34,099 His hands did have blood on them, 81 00:05:34,101 --> 00:05:36,401 but, uh, I couldn't figure out if it was 82 00:05:36,403 --> 00:05:40,105 because, uh, he just attacked this individual, or he was attempting to save his life. 83 00:05:47,414 --> 00:05:49,247 I was lookin' for Ronal Wells, Jr., 84 00:05:49,316 --> 00:05:50,816 but he's not there in the house. 85 00:05:50,818 --> 00:05:53,118 I was there alone with Kolby Parker. 86 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,722 His grandfather, Ronal Wells Sr. was laying there deceased. 87 00:05:58,459 --> 00:06:01,827 I'm tryin' to establish a perimeter for a crime scene perimeter 88 00:06:01,829 --> 00:06:03,962 and wait for more units, and then we'll kinda reorganize, 89 00:06:04,064 --> 00:06:05,530 and figure out what a we need to do. 90 00:06:12,272 --> 00:06:13,104 Yeah. 91 00:06:13,173 --> 00:06:14,940 I stop EMS from coming in there, 92 00:06:14,942 --> 00:06:17,209 because I knew at that point this individual is deceased. 93 00:06:17,211 --> 00:06:20,612 There's nothing that they can do except for trample the crime scene 94 00:06:24,651 --> 00:06:27,719 [Sgt. Jason Dunlap] When I got there, I... I spoke with Deputy Mercer. 95 00:06:30,858 --> 00:06:32,190 [Mercer] Yeah, let's go take a look. 96 00:06:33,227 --> 00:06:34,526 [Dunlap] Things definitely appeared under control, 97 00:06:34,528 --> 00:06:37,963 Deputy Mercer had already assessed the situation. 98 00:06:38,031 --> 00:06:40,298 And he was calm, the... Kolby was walking around, 99 00:06:40,300 --> 00:06:43,301 and, uh, and staying obviously away from the scene. 100 00:06:45,906 --> 00:06:48,807 [Mercer] He was the only person there that I was able to observe, 101 00:06:48,809 --> 00:06:51,309 so he's the only person that has the whole story. 102 00:06:54,815 --> 00:06:57,416 [Parker] 103 00:07:15,702 --> 00:07:18,804 He claimed this was a self-defense, uh, situation, 104 00:07:18,806 --> 00:07:21,606 where... Where the decedent had attacked him, 105 00:07:21,608 --> 00:07:24,943 and he defended himself by stabbing this guy. 106 00:07:29,550 --> 00:07:30,549 [Mercer] 107 00:07:31,718 --> 00:07:33,952 Yeah, yeah. 108 00:07:40,994 --> 00:07:42,727 Keep goin', keep goin', keep goin'. 109 00:07:42,729 --> 00:07:47,899 He began to exhibit some kind of anxiety, and some uncommon behavior. 110 00:07:48,502 --> 00:07:49,701 Concern is shifting. 111 00:07:54,341 --> 00:07:55,207 [Parker] 112 00:07:55,209 --> 00:07:56,308 [Mercer] 113 00:08:01,415 --> 00:08:02,414 [Dunlap] 114 00:08:05,853 --> 00:08:06,651 ...If we're gonna have some issues. 115 00:08:06,753 --> 00:08:08,820 [Mercer] 116 00:08:08,822 --> 00:08:12,424 Where I was patting him down, I definitely felt something 117 00:08:12,426 --> 00:08:15,727 I knew it wasn't drugs, I knew it wasn't contraband I knew it wasn't a weapon. 118 00:08:17,264 --> 00:08:18,163 [Dunlap] 119 00:08:18,732 --> 00:08:21,032 [Mercer] 120 00:08:21,134 --> 00:08:23,101 I say, "Well, he doesn't have any weapons on 'em.'" 121 00:08:23,103 --> 00:08:24,402 I'm making a statement because I'm tryin' a... 122 00:08:24,404 --> 00:08:27,038 In my mind, I'm tryin' to figure out what is this? 123 00:08:28,141 --> 00:08:28,807 [buzzing] 124 00:08:32,246 --> 00:08:33,512 [Mercer] 125 00:08:33,514 --> 00:08:34,312 [Dunlap] 126 00:08:35,415 --> 00:08:37,415 [Mercer] 127 00:08:41,522 --> 00:08:42,220 So... 128 00:08:42,222 --> 00:08:43,355 [Parker] 129 00:08:46,860 --> 00:08:47,893 [Mercer] Yeah, where's Jr. at? 130 00:08:47,895 --> 00:08:49,728 [Parker] 131 00:08:50,430 --> 00:08:51,229 [Mercer] Ronnie... 132 00:08:54,801 --> 00:08:55,500 [Dunlap] 133 00:08:56,303 --> 00:08:57,535 [buzzing] 134 00:09:07,481 --> 00:09:10,715 He reached into his pockets, and pulls out a set of ears. 135 00:09:14,521 --> 00:09:16,221 [Mercer] It was very eviden that they were ears. 136 00:09:16,223 --> 00:09:18,657 That... They retained their shape. 137 00:09:18,725 --> 00:09:21,560 [Mercer] Obviously, it... It doesn't look like a... A toy ear, 138 00:09:21,628 --> 00:09:24,129 but you could tell with the cartilage that it was an ear. 139 00:09:37,444 --> 00:09:41,046 It was implied by Kolby Park that these did belong to Jr 140 00:09:55,529 --> 00:09:57,929 [Dunlap] I went to my vehicl which was just a, you know, 141 00:09:57,931 --> 00:10:00,098 short distance away, in the front yard there. 142 00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:01,933 To... To get bags for the ears, 143 00:10:01,935 --> 00:10:05,804 and... And collect them, uh, for later evidence. 144 00:10:09,409 --> 00:10:10,709 [Parker] 145 00:10:10,711 --> 00:10:11,509 [Mercer] 146 00:10:22,222 --> 00:10:26,057 Hey! Get down! 147 00:10:31,732 --> 00:10:33,965 I heard that they were having a struggle back at the truck, 148 00:10:37,137 --> 00:10:39,504 so I attempted to utilize my Taser. 149 00:10:45,312 --> 00:10:48,313 [Parker] Agh! No! No! No Taser. 150 00:10:51,918 --> 00:10:54,252 [Dunlap] Get off! I can't see what's going on. 151 00:10:54,354 --> 00:10:56,621 [Mercer] He's was tryin' to get at my [bleep] gun. 152 00:10:57,791 --> 00:11:00,959 He definitely was exhibiting signs of strength 153 00:11:00,961 --> 00:11:04,629 uh, that were beyond what we would have expected out of him. 154 00:11:04,631 --> 00:11:06,398 [Dunlap] 33 traffic, Lake, we're fightin' 'em! 155 00:11:11,104 --> 00:11:14,606 [Williams] So when I arrived on scene, I'll...I'll never forget it 156 00:11:18,045 --> 00:11:23,715 I just see a... A pile of... Of deputies tryin' to get control of this guy. 157 00:11:23,717 --> 00:11:25,250 [Mercer] He's tryin' to get up. Get him down! 158 00:11:26,787 --> 00:11:27,652 [Williams] 159 00:11:27,754 --> 00:11:28,953 [Dunlap] 160 00:11:30,891 --> 00:11:32,057 [Parker] I'll give it back to him when I'm done. 161 00:11:32,158 --> 00:11:33,458 [Dunlap] You're not having it. 162 00:11:35,829 --> 00:11:37,028 [Williams] 163 00:11:37,030 --> 00:11:38,629 [Dunlap] Slow down! It's back here. 164 00:11:38,631 --> 00:11:40,899 [Williams] It can be what we refer to as excited delirium. 165 00:11:40,901 --> 00:11:45,603 To this state where it's almost like this super human strength. 166 00:11:45,605 --> 00:11:47,806 Tasers have no effect. 167 00:11:47,808 --> 00:11:50,108 And that can come off of drug use, 168 00:11:50,110 --> 00:11:52,544 but it could just be somethi within their own head. 169 00:11:55,816 --> 00:11:59,250 It's just a matter of tryin to contain that person. 170 00:12:08,862 --> 00:12:10,361 [Mercer] Well, as soon as the fight occurred, 171 00:12:10,463 --> 00:12:13,832 I just tossed the ears into the back of... My... The bed of my truck. 172 00:12:13,933 --> 00:12:16,000 [Dunlap] What's that? 173 00:12:16,002 --> 00:12:18,203 -[Williams] I wanna make sure. -[Dunlap] Oh, yeah, yeah. No, we're live. 174 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,040 [Dunlap] 175 00:12:22,109 --> 00:12:23,007 Those are ears. 176 00:12:24,611 --> 00:12:26,611 [Mercer] 177 00:12:29,349 --> 00:12:31,216 We have to go in, and we're gonna have 178 00:12:31,218 --> 00:12:34,619 to do a search of the house to make sure there's nobody else in there. 179 00:12:51,938 --> 00:12:53,004 [Dunlap] 180 00:12:55,542 --> 00:12:57,308 [dog barking] 181 00:12:57,310 --> 00:12:58,443 [Dunlap] 182 00:13:00,013 --> 00:13:02,747 -[Mercer] Lethal. -[Dunlap] I got lethal. 183 00:13:02,816 --> 00:13:05,150 [Williams] The mutilation that was done to the victim 184 00:13:05,185 --> 00:13:10,155 that's not something that's done in self-defense, that's a pre-meditated act. 185 00:13:10,256 --> 00:13:15,226 [Mercer] As we walked insid there was a table, and it ha a... A blood-stained knife. 186 00:13:17,497 --> 00:13:18,930 There was the baseball bat. 187 00:13:22,302 --> 00:13:26,504 On the wall in Kolby Parker's bedroom was a apron, 188 00:13:29,409 --> 00:13:32,811 and it said the family butcher on it. 189 00:13:32,813 --> 00:13:38,116 And it had various body part I think there was ears, nose and it had fake blood on it 190 00:13:41,388 --> 00:13:43,221 [narrator] Officers search the house, 191 00:13:43,223 --> 00:13:47,058 but there is no sign of Ronal Wells, Jr. 192 00:13:47,060 --> 00:13:53,498 Police learn that Ronal Jr. the victim's son, was out to when his father was killed. 193 00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:57,735 He had no knowledge of, or involvement in the attack 194 00:13:57,804 --> 00:14:01,406 Kolby Parker made that strange call to 911. 195 00:14:01,408 --> 00:14:03,308 [buzzing] 196 00:14:04,311 --> 00:14:08,313 [Williams] I rode with Kolb in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, 197 00:14:08,315 --> 00:14:10,014 so he can get medically cleared. 198 00:14:10,016 --> 00:14:13,218 And I just remember looking into his eyes... 199 00:14:15,422 --> 00:14:17,121 and there was nothing there 200 00:14:18,425 --> 00:14:24,629 That was my first glance into what evil really looks like, 201 00:14:24,631 --> 00:14:28,399 and you... You just can't shake that once you see it. 202 00:14:39,746 --> 00:14:42,146 [Mercer] 203 00:14:42,215 --> 00:14:43,047 [Parker] 204 00:14:45,051 --> 00:14:47,752 [Mercer] 205 00:14:50,323 --> 00:14:52,123 [Parker] 206 00:15:09,342 --> 00:15:12,744 [Mercer] 207 00:15:12,812 --> 00:15:14,646 [Parker] 208 00:15:14,747 --> 00:15:17,115 [Mercer] 209 00:15:19,319 --> 00:15:23,688 I don't think the dog took the skin off the arm. The... The wound is too clean. 210 00:15:23,690 --> 00:15:25,056 It seems to be done with an edge weapon, 211 00:15:25,058 --> 00:15:27,358 like the knife that was used to stab him several times. 212 00:15:28,628 --> 00:15:31,663 [Parker] 213 00:15:31,731 --> 00:15:32,931 [Mercer] 214 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:34,499 [Parker] 215 00:15:34,501 --> 00:15:35,800 [Mercer] 216 00:15:37,203 --> 00:15:39,604 [Parker] 217 00:15:42,242 --> 00:15:44,409 [Mercer] 218 00:15:45,211 --> 00:15:46,010 [Parker] 219 00:15:46,012 --> 00:15:47,412 [Mercer] 220 00:15:49,516 --> 00:15:50,214 [Parker] 221 00:15:50,216 --> 00:15:51,015 [Mercer] 222 00:15:51,017 --> 00:15:51,683 [Parker] 223 00:15:51,685 --> 00:15:53,551 [Mercer] 224 00:15:58,858 --> 00:16:02,860 [narrator] Kolby Parker plead no contest to murder in the second degree, 225 00:16:02,962 --> 00:16:05,530 and was sentenced to 50 years behind bars. 226 00:16:07,500 --> 00:16:11,035 [Mercer] I think this is a once in a lifetime career event. 227 00:16:11,037 --> 00:16:13,738 This is something that does not happen on a regular basis. 228 00:16:13,807 --> 00:16:15,440 And as... As a homicide detective, 229 00:16:15,508 --> 00:16:18,710 I'm... I'm kind of exposed to some, uh, more heinous crimes now, 230 00:16:18,712 --> 00:16:20,712 and I haven't seen anything quite like it since. 231 00:16:32,058 --> 00:16:37,628 [narrator] In the heart of Connecticut, lies the rural town of Wallingfor 232 00:16:41,534 --> 00:16:43,334 [Kelly Boyle] In 2021, 233 00:16:43,336 --> 00:16:48,840 the state of Connecticut had over 20 intimate partner violent homicides. 234 00:16:50,110 --> 00:16:53,111 And that's a lot. One is too many. 235 00:16:56,116 --> 00:16:59,417 Around 3:00 p.m. a woman walked into the police department, 236 00:16:59,419 --> 00:17:02,453 and then stated that her husband had assaulted her. 237 00:17:02,489 --> 00:17:05,623 And that he might be armed with a rifle at their house. 238 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,361 She said his name was Christopher Poach. 239 00:17:10,430 --> 00:17:13,631 He told her he was going to slaughter her. 240 00:17:15,301 --> 00:17:19,704 And at that point, the priority was to apprehen Christopher safely. 241 00:17:22,442 --> 00:17:26,310 Officer Peckham and I, we're more of a specialized unit. 242 00:17:26,312 --> 00:17:30,815 So we sued the undercover car, and we're generally dressed in everyday clothes. 243 00:17:33,486 --> 00:17:34,651 [Szeligowski] Our initial jo 244 00:17:34,653 --> 00:17:35,953 was just to get surveillanc on the house, 245 00:17:36,022 --> 00:17:38,022 and just make sure that no one came outta the house, 246 00:17:38,024 --> 00:17:40,458 and no one went into the house. 247 00:17:40,527 --> 00:17:42,960 [Nicholas Peckham] We parked about a house and a half distance away. 248 00:17:45,231 --> 00:17:48,399 We were stationed there for quite a while just watchin' the house. 249 00:17:50,103 --> 00:17:52,703 Eventually several other officers arrive on scene, 250 00:17:52,705 --> 00:17:54,205 and start creating a perimeter. 251 00:17:57,510 --> 00:18:00,244 And then a red car pulls into the driveway, 252 00:18:00,313 --> 00:18:02,713 and a older woman and kids get out, 253 00:18:02,715 --> 00:18:05,750 and they start walking towards the front of the house. 254 00:18:16,396 --> 00:18:17,461 [Szeligowski] 255 00:18:24,671 --> 00:18:25,937 [Peckham] They get back in the car, 256 00:18:26,038 --> 00:18:28,306 and they're instructed to go down the road. 257 00:18:30,043 --> 00:18:33,211 We solved one issue, getting the children out of harm's way, 258 00:18:33,213 --> 00:18:35,813 but we created another, that we escalated the scene 259 00:18:35,815 --> 00:18:39,817 from, uh, loose perimeter and surveillance to now he knows we're there. 260 00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:56,701 [Peckham] So we decide to constrict the perimeter, 261 00:18:56,703 --> 00:18:58,803 and take up positions of cover around the house. 262 00:19:10,950 --> 00:19:12,616 [Szeligowski] 263 00:19:17,857 --> 00:19:21,759 [Peckham] So the woman in the red vehicle was the suspect's mother, 264 00:19:21,828 --> 00:19:24,729 and she's giving more information to us. 265 00:19:24,731 --> 00:19:26,464 [Peckham] 266 00:19:30,303 --> 00:19:31,568 [Szeligowski] 267 00:19:32,405 --> 00:19:34,405 [Peckham] So at that point, it became more real. 268 00:19:36,409 --> 00:19:39,143 And we wanna take that situation a little more seriously. 269 00:19:54,427 --> 00:19:55,793 [dispatcher] 270 00:19:57,197 --> 00:19:59,130 [Szeligowski] This is now at the worst case scenario. 271 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:03,935 He did have firearms, he wasn't going to comply 272 00:20:03,937 --> 00:20:06,237 with any orders or commands we were giving him, 273 00:20:06,306 --> 00:20:08,406 and he became a barricaded subject. 274 00:20:09,375 --> 00:20:11,142 That's a potential shoot-out 275 00:20:18,918 --> 00:20:23,754 The lieutenant on shift, was informing us that the SWAT team was coming out. 276 00:20:31,431 --> 00:20:33,431 waiting for them to arrive. 277 00:20:35,602 --> 00:20:37,935 [Peckham speaking] 278 00:20:50,717 --> 00:20:52,516 [Vincent Szeligowski speaking] 279 00:21:10,903 --> 00:21:12,937 [shouting] 280 00:22:12,131 --> 00:22:13,831 Agh! Agh! 281 00:22:17,737 --> 00:22:19,503 [panting] 282 00:22:30,049 --> 00:22:31,649 When the rifle sticks out of the window, 283 00:22:31,751 --> 00:22:33,150 I'm the only officer in the backyard. 284 00:22:33,219 --> 00:22:34,819 I don't know what his plan is at that point. 285 00:22:36,022 --> 00:22:38,222 About 15-20 seconds goes by 286 00:22:38,224 --> 00:22:40,958 and he comes out the rear a the house, and onto the deck. 287 00:22:44,697 --> 00:22:46,430 He then jumps off the deck, 288 00:22:46,432 --> 00:22:49,834 and he's carrying a... A backpack on his back, and a large rifle case. 289 00:22:49,902 --> 00:22:52,503 I jump out from behind my cover with my gun drawn, 290 00:22:52,505 --> 00:22:55,406 yelling at him, "Drop the gu Get on the ground! Drop the gun!" 291 00:22:56,609 --> 00:22:58,943 He looks at me, he clearly hears my commands 292 00:22:58,945 --> 00:23:01,812 but he disregards them and he just takes off runnin 293 00:23:04,817 --> 00:23:07,752 He actually starts to unzip the rifle case while running 294 00:23:07,820 --> 00:23:10,054 and he draws the rifle from the case. 295 00:23:13,059 --> 00:23:15,426 I drop my radio to have a steadier shot, 296 00:23:15,428 --> 00:23:17,928 because at any moment, I may need to take that shot. 297 00:23:17,930 --> 00:23:20,965 He had already assaulted and threatened to kill his wife. 298 00:23:23,803 --> 00:23:26,504 As we're approaching the road, he drops his bag. 299 00:23:28,941 --> 00:23:30,641 I... I don't know if I had tripped on his bag, 300 00:23:30,743 --> 00:23:34,111 or I had just stumbled in general, but at that point I fell. 301 00:23:37,116 --> 00:23:39,116 I did a... A roll and jumped back up, 302 00:23:39,118 --> 00:23:42,353 and I get another burst of energy and I start catching up to him again. 303 00:23:44,624 --> 00:23:47,825 He starts running towards the little wooden fence. 304 00:23:47,827 --> 00:23:50,428 As he jumped over the fence, he fell. 305 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,034 Then I was able to clear the fence and get right on top of him 306 00:23:57,036 --> 00:23:59,437 And he didn't fight at that point. 307 00:23:59,538 --> 00:24:01,505 You know, we held him down, we got him his handcuffs. 308 00:24:05,411 --> 00:24:08,112 And it almost just seemed that he was exhausted, 309 00:24:08,114 --> 00:24:10,681 and he just couldn't do it anymore. 310 00:24:10,683 --> 00:24:13,117 And then at that point, we put him in the cruiser, 311 00:24:13,119 --> 00:24:16,120 and he was brought to the station, where he was then booked and processed 312 00:24:16,122 --> 00:24:18,856 for the crimes that he had committed. 313 00:24:18,925 --> 00:24:23,060 [narrator] Christopher Poac is found guilty of carrying a pistol without a permit, 314 00:24:23,062 --> 00:24:27,064 assault in the third degree and threatening in the second degree. 315 00:24:27,132 --> 00:24:29,800 He's sentenced to five years in jail. 316 00:24:29,802 --> 00:24:32,203 [Kelly Boyle] He served about a year. 317 00:24:32,205 --> 00:24:34,004 The victim is aware that he is out, 318 00:24:34,006 --> 00:24:36,106 and it's from my understanding that she's nervous. 319 00:24:37,510 --> 00:24:39,777 The last time I saw her was in December. 320 00:24:39,779 --> 00:24:42,446 She said that she was doing well, and her kids were doing well, 321 00:24:42,548 --> 00:24:44,915 and she expressed gratitude to the police department, 322 00:24:44,917 --> 00:24:49,119 in helping her to get out of that cycle, and that situation. 323 00:24:56,095 --> 00:24:57,761 [narrator] In Nevada, 324 00:24:57,763 --> 00:25:02,800 U.S. 95 is one of the main arteries running northwest out of Las Vegas. 325 00:25:05,304 --> 00:25:10,541 The highway is part of state trooper Rafael Rodriguez's patrol territory 326 00:25:10,610 --> 00:25:13,444 [Rodriguez] We have three major freeways here in Las Vegas, 327 00:25:13,513 --> 00:25:16,947 and we have a population about almost three million people. 328 00:25:17,917 --> 00:25:19,116 The traffic... 329 00:25:19,118 --> 00:25:21,185 ...it's pretty bad. 330 00:25:21,187 --> 00:25:25,055 The most common incidents that I respond to are motor vehicle collisions 331 00:25:26,325 --> 00:25:28,425 I take pride in helping others. 332 00:25:28,427 --> 00:25:30,060 It's always been a part of me. That's how I was raised. 333 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:38,536 During the evening, I received a call that there's a woman 334 00:25:38,604 --> 00:25:40,704 hanging on the a... Other side of the overpass fence 335 00:25:40,706 --> 00:25:44,542 on the westbound side of Russell and U.S. 95, 336 00:25:44,610 --> 00:25:47,811 attempting to take her life and jump onto northbound traffic. 337 00:25:48,948 --> 00:25:52,116 I was the closest unit at that time. 338 00:25:52,118 --> 00:25:54,919 It could take maybe five minutes, lights and sirens, 339 00:25:54,921 --> 00:25:56,754 to get there in a safe and timely manner. 340 00:25:59,225 --> 00:26:02,526 Suicide attempts have become more frequent here in Las Vegas 341 00:26:02,528 --> 00:26:04,929 on the overpass bridges and on our freeways. 342 00:26:06,399 --> 00:26:09,099 When that call came out, a lot of things go through your mind, 343 00:26:10,303 --> 00:26:12,102 but you just wanna get there 344 00:26:19,011 --> 00:26:23,147 When I arrived on scene, I believe it was like a beig four-door sedan, 345 00:26:23,215 --> 00:26:25,449 which was just parked on the shoulder. 346 00:26:25,551 --> 00:26:27,718 I was gonna go speak to the... The driver, 347 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:30,688 but then I looked and I was like, "Oh, no." 348 00:26:30,690 --> 00:26:34,525 I noticed a female that was hanging on the opposite side 349 00:26:34,527 --> 00:26:38,329 of the safety fence, on the westbound overpass, by her fingertips. 350 00:26:39,599 --> 00:26:41,732 And it shocked me a little bit. 351 00:26:41,834 --> 00:26:45,035 From the safety fence all the way to the bottom of the freeway, 352 00:26:45,037 --> 00:26:46,403 it was... It was about 30 feet. 353 00:26:47,239 --> 00:26:49,039 It is a very substantial height. 354 00:26:49,942 --> 00:26:51,842 If you fall, you could die. 355 00:27:07,827 --> 00:27:11,428 [Rodriguez] I let dispatch know because we have to stop traffic. 356 00:27:11,430 --> 00:27:16,000 That sets up fire and medical, so if they need a stage on the bottom of the overpass, 357 00:27:16,002 --> 00:27:18,202 they have a clean area to... To work with. 358 00:27:30,349 --> 00:27:33,417 I'm the first one there, I need to go back to my training, 359 00:27:33,419 --> 00:27:35,519 and I need to let her know that I'm here to help. 360 00:27:37,456 --> 00:27:39,423 [woman speaking] 361 00:27:39,425 --> 00:27:41,325 [Rodriguez speaking] 362 00:27:42,962 --> 00:27:45,462 [woman sobbing] 363 00:27:45,531 --> 00:27:46,930 [Rodriguez speaking] 364 00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:50,601 I was scared. I was worried 365 00:27:51,504 --> 00:27:53,337 She was holding on by her fingertips, 366 00:27:53,406 --> 00:27:56,707 and she was shaking and crying hysterically. 367 00:27:56,709 --> 00:27:58,509 I have to try to steer her away 368 00:27:58,511 --> 00:28:01,045 from whatever thoughts she might be having at that moment. 369 00:28:07,853 --> 00:28:09,053 [woman speaking] 370 00:28:09,154 --> 00:28:11,321 [Rodriguez speaking] 371 00:28:16,062 --> 00:28:17,961 I just didn't want to put pressure on her. 372 00:28:17,963 --> 00:28:20,130 I don't want to see her take her life. 373 00:28:21,701 --> 00:28:24,702 There wasn't that much space for her to move. 374 00:28:24,704 --> 00:28:28,338 There's maybe an inch between the bottom of the safety fence 375 00:28:28,407 --> 00:28:30,941 and the concrete slab that holds it together. 376 00:28:32,111 --> 00:28:33,811 There's nowhere for me to grab her, 377 00:28:33,813 --> 00:28:37,715 so, I mean, if she just decides to let go, it's a done deal. 378 00:28:42,188 --> 00:28:44,321 [Erickson speaking] 379 00:28:44,323 --> 00:28:47,424 I had my backup, and then I can focus on the female 380 00:28:47,426 --> 00:28:49,259 that's on the other, uh, side of the fence. 381 00:28:57,603 --> 00:29:01,038 I actually zoned out a little bit. 382 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:03,407 It was just almost like me and her at that moment. 383 00:29:04,543 --> 00:29:07,344 [woman speaking] 384 00:29:07,446 --> 00:29:08,612 [Rodriguez speaking] 385 00:29:10,015 --> 00:29:12,416 She's telling me that she's sorry for her kids, 386 00:29:12,418 --> 00:29:15,219 and that hurts because I hav a son, I have a five year ol 387 00:29:15,221 --> 00:29:17,221 and I have a family, and I know she has a family 388 00:29:27,633 --> 00:29:29,233 [woman bawling] 389 00:29:29,334 --> 00:29:30,901 [Rodriguez speaking] 390 00:29:35,808 --> 00:29:37,708 [woman speaking] 391 00:29:37,710 --> 00:29:39,343 [Rodriguez speaking] 392 00:29:39,411 --> 00:29:42,446 [woman blubbering] 393 00:29:42,548 --> 00:29:44,815 [Rodriguez] You wanna do everything you can to let her know 394 00:29:44,817 --> 00:29:47,317 that she has things that are worth living for. 395 00:29:49,255 --> 00:29:53,724 And that's why I'm so grateful that I had my team there with me. 396 00:29:53,726 --> 00:29:57,327 Now, it's not just me thinking. I can get their input, as well. 397 00:29:57,930 --> 00:30:01,398 [Melody speaking] 398 00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:03,934 [Rodriguez speaking] The female officer, she definitely helped. 399 00:30:03,936 --> 00:30:06,837 She was able to speak to the female, keeping her occupied. 400 00:30:15,414 --> 00:30:18,015 [Erickson speaking] 401 00:30:18,017 --> 00:30:21,418 [Rodriguez] I was like, what tools out here can we use to break her fall, at least? 402 00:30:54,153 --> 00:30:55,452 [Erickson speaking] 403 00:30:55,554 --> 00:30:56,420 [Rodriguez speaking] 404 00:30:56,422 --> 00:30:58,522 [Erickson speaking] 405 00:30:58,524 --> 00:30:59,823 [Rodriguez] For a moment, I was tryin' to think, like 406 00:30:59,825 --> 00:31:02,526 maybe I could wrap her leg around it. 407 00:31:02,528 --> 00:31:05,829 We couldn't find anything in our vehicles that... That were gonna help us. 408 00:31:08,334 --> 00:31:10,434 I was scared, I was worried, and I was anxious. 409 00:31:13,205 --> 00:31:15,305 You keep thinking, this is playing out right no 410 00:31:15,307 --> 00:31:17,073 you're... You're thinking what else can I do? 411 00:31:18,811 --> 00:31:23,513 Words are not enough at moments like these. Now, it's time for action. 412 00:31:33,959 --> 00:31:36,860 [Erickson speaking] 413 00:31:37,897 --> 00:31:39,363 [Rodriguez speaking] 414 00:31:54,613 --> 00:31:56,813 It was a struggle, 'cause when you're wearing a duty belt, 415 00:31:56,815 --> 00:31:58,648 that's like 30 pounds on your waist. 416 00:31:58,650 --> 00:32:01,652 And then you're just in an awkward position, it's hard to lift yourself u 417 00:32:06,625 --> 00:32:09,826 [Melody speaking] 418 00:32:11,530 --> 00:32:15,565 [Rodriguez speaking] 419 00:32:15,567 --> 00:32:17,501 I just wanna to let her know I'm here. 420 00:32:17,503 --> 00:32:20,304 This is me, this is the one who's been talking to you the entire time. 421 00:32:24,343 --> 00:32:25,509 -[woman speaking] -[Rodriguez speaking] 422 00:32:25,511 --> 00:32:26,944 [Rodriguez speaking] 423 00:32:29,048 --> 00:32:30,514 These moments are crucial, 424 00:32:30,516 --> 00:32:33,951 and the time's not on our side, so I grabbed her hand. 425 00:32:34,052 --> 00:32:36,453 [woman speaking] 426 00:32:36,522 --> 00:32:39,623 [Rodriguez speaking] 427 00:32:40,726 --> 00:32:42,926 [woman blubbering] 428 00:32:42,928 --> 00:32:45,362 [Rodriguez speaking] 429 00:32:45,431 --> 00:32:48,298 I was gettin' scared that I had provoked this. 430 00:32:49,201 --> 00:32:50,934 It shoots more adrenaline through my body. 431 00:32:50,936 --> 00:32:54,404 It gets me more worried, because I don't know if she's just gonna let go. 432 00:33:04,717 --> 00:33:06,416 [woman blubbering] 433 00:33:06,418 --> 00:33:07,951 -[Rodriguez speaking] -[woman blubbering] 434 00:33:07,953 --> 00:33:09,720 [Rodriguez speaking] 435 00:33:18,364 --> 00:33:20,530 [Erickson speaking] 436 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:22,932 [Rodriguez speaking] 437 00:33:25,104 --> 00:33:28,939 You try to build that trust that confidence, that rapport with her. 438 00:33:29,041 --> 00:33:31,942 I just wanted to let her kno that I'd gone up there 439 00:33:32,011 --> 00:33:34,111 because I'm willing to put my life on the line, 440 00:33:34,113 --> 00:33:37,114 and that if we're gonna go down, we're gonna go down together. 441 00:33:40,786 --> 00:33:41,752 [Erickson speaking] 442 00:33:41,754 --> 00:33:43,120 [Melody] Are you able to get on this side? 443 00:33:45,924 --> 00:33:48,558 [Rodriguez speaking] 444 00:33:48,660 --> 00:33:51,728 She started shimmying her way onto the westbound side, 445 00:34:08,447 --> 00:34:10,614 [Melody] Yeah, stop movin' over, stop movin' over. 446 00:34:12,451 --> 00:34:13,817 [Rodriguez speaking] 447 00:34:17,056 --> 00:34:20,323 The altitude of the height of the bridge is 30 feet high, 448 00:34:20,325 --> 00:34:23,427 so it almost guarantees certainty of death. 449 00:34:24,630 --> 00:34:28,999 After the crying hystericall she stopped. 450 00:34:29,001 --> 00:34:31,735 That frightened me, 'cause, I was, like, she's gonna let go. 451 00:34:34,139 --> 00:34:35,505 [woman speaking] 452 00:34:41,113 --> 00:34:42,712 [Rodriguez speaking] 453 00:34:42,714 --> 00:34:45,415 [Melody speaking] 454 00:34:46,718 --> 00:34:50,220 [Rodriguez speaking] 455 00:34:50,222 --> 00:34:53,423 I was frightened that I wasn't gonna be able to save her life. 456 00:34:53,425 --> 00:34:55,325 [Melody] How many kids do you have? I have-- 457 00:34:55,327 --> 00:34:56,426 [Rodriguez speaking] 458 00:34:59,064 --> 00:35:00,763 I had stopped grabbing her hand, 459 00:35:00,765 --> 00:35:03,500 and I started shimmying my way to the other side of the fence... 460 00:35:07,306 --> 00:35:10,607 ...so I could prevent her from going further west. 461 00:35:10,609 --> 00:35:12,642 [Rodriguez breathing heavily] 462 00:35:16,815 --> 00:35:19,216 [Rodriguez] I'd never really considered the risk to myself. 463 00:35:23,555 --> 00:35:25,355 I am conscience of my movements, 464 00:35:25,457 --> 00:35:28,325 and, like, hey, if I go more on this side I'm gonna tip over. 465 00:35:29,962 --> 00:35:30,927 [bleep] 466 00:35:31,964 --> 00:35:33,463 [Melody] Do you have a boy or a girl? 467 00:35:33,565 --> 00:35:35,232 But I was just so focused on her. 468 00:35:36,502 --> 00:35:40,537 [woman speaking] 469 00:35:40,639 --> 00:35:42,405 [Melody speaking] 470 00:35:46,812 --> 00:35:48,544 [Rodriguez] I thought we had a breakthrough 471 00:35:48,546 --> 00:35:52,716 when the Henderson police officer said that she was gonna be able to call her mom. 472 00:35:52,718 --> 00:35:57,821 [woman blubbering] 473 00:36:02,761 --> 00:36:04,127 [Melody speaking] 474 00:36:04,129 --> 00:36:06,796 [Woman speaking] 475 00:36:06,798 --> 00:36:09,299 [Melody speaking] 476 00:36:09,301 --> 00:36:14,538 [Rodriguez] And I was, like okay, so maybe she'll let m guide her to the other side 477 00:36:14,606 --> 00:36:17,307 I was just tryin' to figure out how we were gonna get on the other side, 478 00:36:18,810 --> 00:36:21,745 and I'm seein' her get more physically upset. 479 00:36:21,813 --> 00:36:24,714 Maybe, she thought in her head, I don't wanna be helped anymore. 480 00:36:29,221 --> 00:36:32,189 [woman blubbering] 481 00:36:32,191 --> 00:36:33,857 [Melody speaking] 482 00:36:33,926 --> 00:36:35,258 [Erickson speaking] 483 00:36:37,930 --> 00:36:41,598 [Melody speaking] 484 00:36:51,009 --> 00:36:52,209 [woman speaking] 485 00:36:52,211 --> 00:36:53,210 [Melody speaking] 486 00:36:59,117 --> 00:36:59,816 [Rodriguez speaking] 487 00:36:59,818 --> 00:37:01,918 [Melody speaking] 488 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:03,219 [Rodriguez speaking] 489 00:37:04,189 --> 00:37:06,423 While we're thinking, okay, what can we do right now, 490 00:37:06,425 --> 00:37:08,258 so we can bring this to an end, 491 00:37:08,326 --> 00:37:10,060 the Henderson Fire Department had arrived. 492 00:37:15,300 --> 00:37:17,801 [Rodriguez] The firefighter actually gave me the idea. 493 00:37:17,803 --> 00:37:21,938 He said, "If you handcuff her to the fence, if she attempts to fall, 494 00:37:22,007 --> 00:37:24,808 she's just gonna break her arms at the most, but she's gonna survive." 495 00:37:27,913 --> 00:37:29,946 And I was still holding onto the fence for a second 496 00:37:30,015 --> 00:37:34,718 and I could see when he had said that, it had bothered her. 497 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:39,122 After the crying hystericall she stopped. 498 00:37:39,124 --> 00:37:41,925 That frightened me, 'cause, I was, like, she's gonna let go. 499 00:37:44,363 --> 00:37:45,695 [woman speaking] 500 00:37:45,697 --> 00:37:47,964 [Melody speaking] 501 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:49,532 [Rodriguez speaking] 502 00:37:52,137 --> 00:37:54,504 Her "sorry" turned into something different. 503 00:37:54,506 --> 00:37:58,208 Like, looking at me saying, "I'm really sorry for what I'm gonna do in this moment. 504 00:38:11,456 --> 00:38:14,457 In my heart I believed that that was the moment she was gonna let go. 505 00:38:15,727 --> 00:38:18,395 You could just see it in her eyes, and her face 506 00:38:18,397 --> 00:38:19,962 I'd never saw that before. 507 00:38:19,964 --> 00:38:23,133 Somebody going from a... An extreme of crying hysterically 508 00:38:23,234 --> 00:38:26,936 to almost, like a moment of bliss, of calmness. 509 00:38:26,938 --> 00:38:31,441 It's almost like she froze, and then she just looked at me. 510 00:38:31,510 --> 00:38:34,110 That's when she whispered, "I'm sorry," 511 00:38:34,112 --> 00:38:36,513 and that's when I thought, this is it, she's gonna let go. 512 00:38:38,050 --> 00:38:42,118 My adrenaline, my hands were shaking a little bit. 513 00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:46,656 So I took my handcuffs out, I had 'em in the back of my right hand. 514 00:38:52,831 --> 00:38:53,930 [woman speaking] 515 00:39:00,038 --> 00:39:02,005 [Rodriguez breathing heavily] 516 00:39:03,675 --> 00:39:06,609 [Rodriguez] I let go of the fence, I grabbed onto her wrist, 517 00:39:06,611 --> 00:39:08,411 I put on the sets of handcuffs, 518 00:39:08,413 --> 00:39:12,515 and then I used the other se and secured it onto the fenc 519 00:39:12,517 --> 00:39:15,452 And I grabbed onto her other wrist, and I did the same. 520 00:39:16,922 --> 00:39:19,222 [woman sobbing] 521 00:39:24,629 --> 00:39:26,129 [Rodriguez speaking] 522 00:39:26,832 --> 00:39:32,802 [woman speaking] 523 00:39:40,112 --> 00:39:42,846 -[Rodriguez speaking] -[fireman] Perfect! 524 00:39:42,914 --> 00:39:45,615 [Rodriguez] But when I said "Hey, I got the second one on," 525 00:39:45,617 --> 00:39:47,717 I just knew, I was, like, it's... It's over. 526 00:39:50,222 --> 00:39:52,956 After that, a sense of relief came through me, 527 00:39:53,024 --> 00:39:55,558 [exhaling] because I knew that she wasn't gonna go anywhere. 528 00:39:56,495 --> 00:39:58,394 I could breathe again. 529 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:04,701 The Henderson Fire Departmen had already had the ladder truck on the bottom, 530 00:40:04,703 --> 00:40:07,137 and they already set up everything perfectly. 531 00:40:16,214 --> 00:40:16,913 [Rodriguez speaking] 532 00:40:23,221 --> 00:40:24,620 [Rodriguez speaking] 533 00:40:28,126 --> 00:40:30,727 [Rodriguez] She's in great hands, and that was it. 534 00:40:34,032 --> 00:40:36,433 [Rodriguez speaking] 535 00:40:36,534 --> 00:40:40,937 I knew that the magnitude of what I had did, it was extreme. 536 00:40:41,006 --> 00:40:42,939 It's almost like something spiritual, 537 00:40:42,941 --> 00:40:46,075 something that you don't know that's inside a you. 538 00:40:46,077 --> 00:40:48,111 A lotta things ran through my mind... My family. 539 00:40:48,113 --> 00:40:50,313 I was going back home to my... My son. 540 00:40:51,316 --> 00:40:56,319 [exhaling repeatedly] 541 00:40:56,321 --> 00:41:01,624 I remember crouching down, and... And just... I wanted to cry. 542 00:41:02,494 --> 00:41:03,827 It's just such a relief. 543 00:41:03,829 --> 00:41:05,528 -It's over here? -[Simmons] Yeah. 544 00:41:18,376 --> 00:41:20,343 [narrator] The family of the woman was grateful 545 00:41:20,445 --> 00:41:22,111 to the officers for their help. 546 00:41:24,249 --> 00:41:27,450 The woman, herself, approve this footage being shown. 547 00:41:30,121 --> 00:41:32,856 [Rodriguez] I do think about the lady on the bridge a lot, actually. 548 00:41:33,925 --> 00:41:37,060 I felt a connection with he at that moment. 549 00:41:37,062 --> 00:41:39,262 We have just went through this traumatic event together. 550 00:41:40,966 --> 00:41:44,534 I think about her, that she's able to reunite with her kids. 551 00:41:45,604 --> 00:41:47,036 I was just happy. 552 00:41:48,507 --> 00:41:50,540 It came to an end, and it came to a successful end, 553 00:41:50,608 --> 00:41:52,842 and it was the best possible outcome. 554 00:41:54,713 --> 00:41:57,814 That moment had such an impact. I'll never forget it.