Officer Thomas Case Saves the Life Of A 10-Year-Old Autistic Girl

"Officer Thomas Case Saves the Life Of A 10-Year-Old Autistic Girl"
 
What:
Press Conference
Where:
Devonshire Community Police Station
10250 Etiwanda Avenue
Northridge, CA
When:
Friday, August 3, 2001, at 2:30 P.M.
WHY:
To honor Officer Thomas case for saving young girl’s life

Los Angeles: On August 2, 2001, at approximately 7:50 P.M., Officers from the Devonshire Community Police Station responded to an attempt suicide call on the railroad tracks located at 21600 Devonshire Street. The details of the call indicated that someone was walking on the railroad tracks in the path of an on coming train. Police Officer II Thomas Case was the first to reach the individual, and without due regard for the safety of his own life, lunged on to the tracks and snatched 10-year-old Alex Diaz, only seconds before the train would have hit her.
Alex is autistic. Her mother, Anita, is a single parent with three children under ten years of age. She was giving her six-year-old child a bath, continually checking on her other children, when she realized that Alex was not in the house and the sliding glass door out of the kitchen area was open. Unable to find Alex in the house, Anita immediately phoned the police to report her missing.
The actions of Officer Thomas Case were truly heroic. His response to this situation is in keeping with the outstanding work performed by the personnel assigned to the Devonshire Community Police Station on a daily basis. Officer Case and 10-year-old Alex Diaz will be at the press conference for photos and interviews. For further information, please contact Media Relations at 213-485 3586.