DALLAS — Chilling moments were caught on camera as Dallas Fire Rescue pulled a man from White Rock Creek in Lake Highlands in northwest Dallas.
“I saw the lights and I peeked over. I saw the ambulance, cop cars, firefighters," said Yadira Sierra, a Lake Highlands resident.
DFR said someone called 911 after hearing a man yelling for help. They said the man is recovering after ending up at the bottom of a 50 to 60 foot embankment. “It was 4:30 in the morning. I mean the rain was pounding down. What were they doing there,” asked Sierra.
DART police has been investigating the incident which they believe started near their station on Whistle Stop Place. They said the man told them he got into an altercation, and someone threw him in the creek. However, DART said their surveillance cameras show no evidence of that.
Residents told WFAA that while this was an unusual start to the day, they weren’t shocked by it. “Not really because we’ve had incidents across here,” said Sierra.
Just hours after the rescue, Ashley Shreve said someone approached her while she was putting her child in the car and stole her phone from her pocket. “I was mind blown. I couldn’t believe that someone ran up on me right outside of my apartment and did that,” said Shreve, another Lake Highlands resident.
DART said the person was arrested and they were also accused of another robbery that same morning. Although DART Police said Wednesday was their first time responding to the Whistle Stop Place area, their 2022-2023 crime report shows an increase in incidents on their properties. “Now I’m concerned about my safety and my living situation,” said Shreve.
Residents said part of the problem is the back fence of the apartment complexes. They said they’ve seen people get off the DART station, jump the fence, and trespass onto apartment properties. WFAA’s camera caught it too. “I got lucky that I only got my phone stolen and not my life or my kid’s life today,” said Shreve.
It was a scary day that began with a scary morning. Neighbors were just thankful everyone was safe.