Two Civil Guards Prevent a Detainee from Jumping from the Third Floor of the Torrevieja Courthouse

Two civil guards stationed at the Torrevieja judicial headquarters were protagonists of a heroic intervention by preventing a detainee from jumping from the third floor of the courthouse in the Alicante municipality.

From the Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC) of Alicante, they congratulate the intervening agents for their impeccable performance and demonstrated professionalism and remind the new Director General of the Corps, Mercedes González, that these types of interventions are those that "deserve to be rewarded and not as we will surely see in the coming days on the occasion of the Festivity of Our Lady of Pilar, Patroness of the Corps".

The heroic intervention occurred on the morning of September 19, when two civil guards who were on duty at the Torrevieja judicial headquarters, responsible for the custody of detainees, received an order to present a young woman about 20 years old before the judicial authority of Court No. 1 of that locality - which is located on the third floor of the building - to testify regarding the events for which she was deprived of liberty.

Upon arriving at the landing on the third floor of the building, in a sudden and swift move, despite being perfectly handcuffed, she made a dash towards a large window that lights up the stairs and was open, with a clear and determined intention to throw herself out.

In fact, the arrested woman managed to get most of her body outside until intercepted by the two agents who managed to bring her back inside. After that, she began a violent struggle trying to break free and attempted again to throw herself out, with half her body hanging outside.

The officers had to exert necessary force until they managed to immobilize and calm her down due to her nervous and agitated state. They were assisted by other officials and her own lawyer who were present at the scene.

During the intervention, the civil guards sustained various injuries due to their struggle with the detainee, for which they had to be treated at a hospital later. However, these injuries are not serious.

The AUGC continues to insist on demands for civil guards to be considered as "risk profession", like regional police forces. As can be seen, these types of incidents during their duties or in more serious ones in which they participate daily expose their physical integrity in fractions of a second, according to the association.

They also extend their sincere congratulations to the civil guards who participated in this intervention and despite sustaining minor injuries did not hesitate to risk their lives to prevent not just an escape attempt but ensuring that this person did not suffer fatal consequences or serious injuries from a violent fall from three stories high.

Additionally, they remind newly appointed Director General of Civil Guard Mercedes González and command chain that these types of services are those that "deserve to be rewarded deservedly and not as will surely happen in coming days on occasion of Patroness Festivity where every year civil guards performing most arduous services like night shifts or those exposed to weather without air conditioning witness with sadness how commendations are given to those not facing such hardships".

AUGC is one of oldest professional associations. It has representation throughout Spain in each unit and specialty within Corps leading associative movement since democracy's arrival when it was born as clandestine union. Its struggle for institution's democratization earned it 2010 National Human Rights Award granted by Human Rights Association.