Lake County deputies lauded for saving juvenile who jumped from fourth floor

Two Lake County sheriff's deputies are being hailed as heroes for saving the life of a boy who tried to jump from the fourth floor parking garage in Deer Park, officials said Thursday.

Deputy Christopher Perley was patrolling the parking garage in the 21400 block of West Lake-Cook Road about 9 p.m. Tuesday when he spotted a suspicious vehicle on the fifth floor, officials said in a news release.

Perley determined the vehicle was occupied by two boys, one of whom was smoking marijuana, authorities said.

Police did not find marijuana or drug paraphernalia in the vehicle or on the boys. They contacted the parents to pick up the boys at the parking garage, authorities said.

One of the boys left the scene with his parents, officials said. However, the parents of the second juvenile parked on the fourth floor of the garage to have a further discussion. That boy battered his mother during the discussion, ran from the vehicle, and jumped over the side of the parking garage, authorities said.

The boy held onto the ledge while his body dangled four stories above the ground and he began making suicidal statements, authorities said.

Perley and Deputy Tina Cora attempted to pull the boy from the ledge, but he resisted, authorities said. The two deputies ultimately were able to pull the boy safety, but he became combative with officers, authorities said.

He was taken into custody after the struggle and transported to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, authorities said. One deputy was taken to an area hospital with possible broken bones, authorities said.

Charges are pending against the boy after a review by the state's attorney's office.