Atlanta Police Rescue Female in Crisis by Chattahoochee River

On June 27, 2023, at approximately 11:38 AM, Atlanta Police officers were dispatched to 4110 Paces Ferry Road NW after receiving information regarding a missing person. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a security officer who reported discovering an abandoned vehicle belonging to a missing female from Atlanta.

While canvassing the surrounding area for the missing woman, one officer found a pair of women’s dress shoes on the side of a bridge overlooking the Chattahoochee River. Concerned for the missing person’s safety, the officer continued the search along the riverbank.

During the search, the officer was notified by security personnel from a nearby residential property about an unidentified female sitting on the riverbank. The officer approached and observed the woman seated by the river, clutching a large knife to her chest. Additionally, she had visible superficial stab wounds on her wrists.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, the officer approached the woman with a calming demeanor, communicating his intention to help her. After a tense period, the officer was able to de-escalate the situation, convincing the woman to relinquish the knife. She was then assisted up from the riverbank to the property where EMS and mental health crisis specialists were stationed.

The female accepted the assistance offered and later expressed her gratitude to both the responding officer and the security personnel for their support and intervention. The incident underscores the effective use of compassionate communication and crisis intervention by the police officer.

For those in emotional distress or facing mental health crises, the suicide and crisis hotline can be reached at 988. In life-threatening situations, please call 911.