News

Man who ran across Highway 85 to receive mental health resources, Mountain View police say

The incident briefly shut down the highway Monday

A man who ran across northbound Highway 85 during commute hours Monday, causing the highway to be briefly shut down, was detained by an officer and connected to mental health services, according to police.

Stock photo courtesy Getty Images.

Around 4 p.m. on July 25, Mountain View dispatchers received a call from a man who said his adult son was in crisis, according to police. The man reported that his son was in the downtown area inside a silver Prius with a flat tire.

"Officers immediately responded to the area in an effort to find the man’s son when our dispatch center received a second call of a reckless driver in the area of Sylvan Drive near El Camino Real," police said. "Officers re-routed their response, as the car matched the description of the adult son’s vehicle, and found it unoccupied at Sylvan Park."

Additional responding officers then spotted a man matching the son's description walking eastbound on El Camino Real over Highway 85. While officers attempted to stop him, the man started running into northbound Highway 85 rush-hour traffic. He started to cross the southbound lanes but then turned back, police said.

"Officers, who were running after the man on foot to try and get him to safety, ultimately had to tackle him in the clover leaf area and detain him," police said. "One officer was injured in the process."

Help sustain the local news you depend on.

Your contribution matters. Become a member today.

Join

The man was transported to an area hospital and provided mental health resources, according to police, and the injured officer drove himself to an area hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Stay informed

Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter.

Stay informed

Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox in our Express newsletter.

Malea Martin
Malea Martin covers the city hall beat in Mountain View. Before joining the Mountain View Voice in 2022, she covered local politics and education for New Times San Luis Obispo, a weekly newspaper on the Central Coast of California. Read more >>

Follow Mountain View Voice Online on Twitter @mvvoice, Facebook and on Instagram @mvvoice for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more.

Stay informed on important law enforcement news. Sign up for our FREE daily Express newsletter.

Man who ran across Highway 85 to receive mental health resources, Mountain View police say

The incident briefly shut down the highway Monday

by / Mountain View Voice

Uploaded: Wed, Jul 27, 2022, 12:31 pm

A man who ran across northbound Highway 85 during commute hours Monday, causing the highway to be briefly shut down, was detained by an officer and connected to mental health services, according to police.

Around 4 p.m. on July 25, Mountain View dispatchers received a call from a man who said his adult son was in crisis, according to police. The man reported that his son was in the downtown area inside a silver Prius with a flat tire.

"Officers immediately responded to the area in an effort to find the man’s son when our dispatch center received a second call of a reckless driver in the area of Sylvan Drive near El Camino Real," police said. "Officers re-routed their response, as the car matched the description of the adult son’s vehicle, and found it unoccupied at Sylvan Park."

Additional responding officers then spotted a man matching the son's description walking eastbound on El Camino Real over Highway 85. While officers attempted to stop him, the man started running into northbound Highway 85 rush-hour traffic. He started to cross the southbound lanes but then turned back, police said.

"Officers, who were running after the man on foot to try and get him to safety, ultimately had to tackle him in the clover leaf area and detain him," police said. "One officer was injured in the process."

The man was transported to an area hospital and provided mental health resources, according to police, and the injured officer drove himself to an area hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Comments

If you want to dismantle racism, you have to name race
Registered user
Willowgate
on Jul 27, 2022 at 2:45 pm
If you want to dismantle racism, you have to name race, Willowgate
Registered user
on Jul 27, 2022 at 2:45 pm

Sounds like the person ran onto the highway because they were being chased by police. What if a mental health professional had responded and deescalated AND connected the person with mental health services without scaring the person onto the highway. It'll be great when the county's non-law enforcement crisis response (TRUST) is available. Web Link


ivg
Registered user
Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Jul 27, 2022 at 6:47 pm
ivg, Another Mountain View Neighborhood
Registered user
on Jul 27, 2022 at 6:47 pm

Why do you assume racism when the man's own father called the police?


Don't miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.

Post a comment

Sorry, but further commenting on this topic has been closed.