'Erratic Woman' Held For Psychological Evaluation After Children Pulled From Roof
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DELRAY BEACH (CBSMiami) -- Delray Beach police officers responded to multiple 911 calls of a woman and two children on the roof of a townhouse.
The incident took place Saturday just after 4 p.m., according to police.
Investigators said a woman, 23, was acting erratically and refusing to listen to officers' commands. She was perched on a narrow ledge over the garage of a townhouse, about 15-20-feet above the ground, according to police.
Police said two children, a boy, 1, and a girl, 3, stood with her.
Responding officers positioned themselves under the window and on the second floor, out the window and onto the ledge, police said.
"How do we get in the house," an officer asks after getting the door code they make entry and rush to the second floor, where they found the woman with the kids.
Facing a 20-foot drop and rain-slicked surface, officers knew what they had to do: Get the children off the ledge.
"Turned out it was raining, everything was wet, they were half-naked and you had a lady that was out of her mind," Said Sgt Mike Debree, speaking Wednesday after the ordeal.
"During that time, I had to hold her and she kept yelling she was going to jump to someone downstairs," said Sgt. Brian Griffith.
Police say the woman had taken the party drug known as 'Molly' and was in an agitated state.
She was brought safely off the ledge just after the children were rescued.
"It would have ended tragically and we were happy to not see that happen," said Officer Rob Addea.
Officers were able to get a hold of each child's arm, other officers were able to open the window of an adjoining townhouse and eventually able to rescue all of them.
Body camera video recorded the actions of the officers.
The woman, who may face criminal charges, was committed to a mental health facility under Florida's Baker Act, according to police.
The Department of Children and Families has taken custody of the children and is conducting an investigation.