Source: Facebook/St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (OFFICIAL)
A 20-year-old autistic man threatened to jump from the Eads Bridge this week, and it took two strangers who refused to walk away and a team of St. Louis police officers to bring him back from the edge. The man was found on the ground when officers arrived, and by the time the encounter ended, he had been connected with the care he needed.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, two good Samaritans had already stopped to help the man before officers got there, staying by his side as he threatened to jump. When SLMPD officers responded to the bridge, they joined the pair rather than taking over, offering reassurance and treating the man with compassion until he was safe. The department framed the moment simply, writing that protecting the community can involve being there for someone in need…