1
00:00:08,209 --> 00:00:09,375
[woman 2]
2
00:00:09,377 --> 00:00:10,676
[narrator] In Michigan...
3
00:00:10,678 --> 00:00:12,644
[Sgt. Kuehn] If he's willin
to shoot family members,
4
00:00:12,713 --> 00:00:15,147
we're pretty sure he doesn't
care about law enforcement.
5
00:00:15,215 --> 00:00:17,449
[woman 2]
6
00:00:17,518 --> 00:00:20,586
[narrator] ...a shooter's
family tries to talk him dow
7
00:00:20,588 --> 00:00:21,954
[woman 2]
8
00:00:23,090 --> 00:00:25,958
[woman 2 screaming]
9
00:00:26,027 --> 00:00:27,259
[narrator] In Florida...
10
00:00:27,327 --> 00:00:30,496
[Lt. Parkton]
11
00:00:30,498 --> 00:00:33,232
People are getting pulled
by the current into
the dredge equipment.
12
00:00:33,333 --> 00:00:35,034
-[man]
-[Lt. Parkton]
13
00:00:35,036 --> 00:00:36,268
[Lt. Parkton] We were going
to have drownings.
14
00:00:36,270 --> 00:00:37,936
It wasn't a matter of, if,
15
00:00:38,038 --> 00:00:39,638
it was a matter of, how many.
16
00:00:39,740 --> 00:00:42,441
[narrator] And a van load
of marijuana
17
00:00:42,543 --> 00:00:45,411
smashes it's way
through the city of Detroit
18
00:00:49,550 --> 00:00:52,017
He did not care about
the life of anyone,
19
00:00:52,019 --> 00:00:53,085
even hisself.
20
00:00:53,087 --> 00:00:56,889
[indistinct radio
conversation]
21
00:01:03,297 --> 00:01:07,699
[narrator] Fifteen miles
north of Detroit, Michigan,
is Clinton township.
22
00:01:12,506 --> 00:01:14,440
[Sgt. Kuehn] On the night
in question,
23
00:01:14,508 --> 00:01:17,209
I was at our station here.
24
00:01:18,312 --> 00:01:20,579
And our dispatchers
came over the air
25
00:01:20,581 --> 00:01:23,715
and said that there was
a shooting in Mount Clemens.
26
00:01:23,717 --> 00:01:26,518
And that the victim drove
themselves to the jail.
27
00:01:31,292 --> 00:01:33,058
[woman 1]
28
00:01:36,097 --> 00:01:39,398
-[woman 1]
-[officer 1]
29
00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,935
[woman 1]
30
00:01:42,937 --> 00:01:44,303
Their lip was shot.
31
00:01:45,506 --> 00:01:48,507
She's shot in the arm,
she's losing blood.
32
00:01:48,509 --> 00:01:51,410
So, you've got deputies
trying to apply a tournique
33
00:01:51,412 --> 00:01:54,046
to cut off blood loss
at that point.
34
00:01:54,415 --> 00:01:57,216
[officer 1]
35
00:01:57,218 --> 00:01:59,418
-[officer 2]
-[officer 1]
36
00:02:01,689 --> 00:02:04,022
-[officer 2]
-[officer 1]
37
00:02:04,024 --> 00:02:04,856
[woman 1 groans]
38
00:02:07,728 --> 00:02:09,428
There was a child
in the back seat
39
00:02:09,497 --> 00:02:11,296
at the, uh,
time of this shooting.
40
00:02:11,699 --> 00:02:13,198
[officer 1]
41
00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,734
[narrator] The victim's
two-year-old son
is unharmed.
42
00:02:15,836 --> 00:02:18,270
[officer 1]
43
00:02:18,272 --> 00:02:20,272
All right.
44
00:02:20,274 --> 00:02:24,042
[narrator] He's being cared
for in the car of a passer-b
who witnessed the shooting.
45
00:02:24,378 --> 00:02:27,713
[witness]
46
00:02:58,913 --> 00:03:02,381
[Sgt. Kuehn] In this
situation, uh, law enforceme
is super lucky
47
00:03:02,383 --> 00:03:05,050
to have an eye witness
that followed her up there
48
00:03:05,052 --> 00:03:07,419
that give us
crucial information,
49
00:03:07,421 --> 00:03:09,188
uh, leading to know
who did this to her.
50
00:03:09,190 --> 00:03:10,689
[woman 1]
51
00:03:11,392 --> 00:03:12,791
-[officer 3]
-[woman 1]
52
00:03:12,793 --> 00:03:13,959
[officer 2]
53
00:03:16,697 --> 00:03:18,597
[officer 4]
54
00:03:22,903 --> 00:03:26,805
The registered owner
was Devonita Blakes.
55
00:03:26,807 --> 00:03:30,209
[narrator] Devonita Blakes
is the father
of the victim's son.
56
00:03:32,213 --> 00:03:34,580
You just wonder
what the thought process
57
00:03:34,582 --> 00:03:37,716
of this person was
at the time of the incident,
58
00:03:38,586 --> 00:03:40,786
that they don't care
about anything.
59
00:03:40,788 --> 00:03:45,457
No thought for life
or this child.
60
00:03:45,525 --> 00:03:49,261
It takes it up another level
that you really want
to go get this person,
61
00:03:49,296 --> 00:03:51,230
that they have their disregard
for life,
62
00:03:51,298 --> 00:03:54,299
that they're going to put
a, uh, child...
63
00:03:54,301 --> 00:03:57,436
who is as innocent
as innocent can be in danger.
64
00:04:00,808 --> 00:04:03,308
[narrator] A deputy calls
the victim's mother.
65
00:04:18,993 --> 00:04:21,360
[siren wailing]
66
00:04:21,428 --> 00:04:24,429
[Sgt. Kuehn] The blue
Grand Cherokee was registere
67
00:04:24,531 --> 00:04:26,832
to an address in our township.
68
00:04:29,203 --> 00:04:30,936
[siren wailing]
69
00:04:32,773 --> 00:04:35,307
[Sgt. Kuehn] Uh, tactically
whenever we arrive
on a scene like this,
70
00:04:35,309 --> 00:04:37,576
we're not going to be
rolling up with lights on,
71
00:04:37,578 --> 00:04:39,778
as to draw attention
to ourselves.
72
00:04:39,780 --> 00:04:42,347
We're going to come
in stealth mode, uh,
73
00:04:42,416 --> 00:04:44,950
you know, so the suspect
doesn't see us right away.
74
00:05:03,137 --> 00:05:06,104
We observed his vehicle,
the Grand Cherokee.
75
00:05:11,278 --> 00:05:12,977
[officer 5]
76
00:05:14,415 --> 00:05:16,848
[Sgt. Kuehn] All the window
were tinted,
so it was hard to see.
77
00:05:30,597 --> 00:05:32,230
[operator]
78
00:05:35,436 --> 00:05:36,668
[Sgt. Kuehn] So, now,
at this point,
79
00:05:36,670 --> 00:05:39,104
our train of thought
moved to his apartment.
80
00:05:43,944 --> 00:05:45,277
[officer 6]
81
00:05:51,085 --> 00:05:54,286
We've got a suspect who had
just shot somebody he knows
82
00:05:54,288 --> 00:05:56,788
in the case, with the child
in the car.
83
00:05:56,790 --> 00:06:00,692
And we're assuming
that the suspect is up
in the apartment.
84
00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,334
[Sgt. Kuehn] Uh,
if he's willing to shoot
family members,
85
00:06:09,436 --> 00:06:13,038
we're pretty sure he doesn'
care about law enforcement.
86
00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:14,706
We'd like to get everybody
out of there,
87
00:06:14,708 --> 00:06:16,241
just in case if shots
are fired,
88
00:06:16,343 --> 00:06:17,943
that no one else is hurt.
89
00:06:19,613 --> 00:06:20,679
[officer 4]
90
00:06:20,681 --> 00:06:22,314
[woman 2]
91
00:06:22,316 --> 00:06:24,683
-[officer]
-[Sgt. Kuehn]
92
00:06:24,685 --> 00:06:26,418
-[officer]
-[woman 2]
93
00:06:26,420 --> 00:06:28,053
-[woman 2]
-[officer]
94
00:06:29,423 --> 00:06:30,589
[woman 2]
95
00:06:31,592 --> 00:06:34,259
I hear a female yelling
or a female walking up.
96
00:06:34,327 --> 00:06:36,595
-[officer]
-[woman]
97
00:06:38,599 --> 00:06:39,664
[woman 2]
98
00:06:42,603 --> 00:06:44,403
[Sgt. Kuehn] This was
a family member
99
00:06:44,405 --> 00:06:47,939
that could have valuable intel
on the suspect.
100
00:06:50,043 --> 00:06:52,110
[woman 2]
101
00:06:52,746 --> 00:06:54,746
[woman 2]
102
00:07:10,063 --> 00:07:11,696
[woman 2]
103
00:07:22,009 --> 00:07:23,909
[woman 2]
104
00:07:29,817 --> 00:07:31,216
[woman 2]
105
00:07:32,686 --> 00:07:35,754
Having a family member
in this situation, it is...
106
00:07:35,789 --> 00:07:38,523
it can complicate things
but it can also help.
107
00:07:40,961 --> 00:07:41,793
[woman 2]
108
00:07:43,597 --> 00:07:45,430
[woman 2]
109
00:07:55,609 --> 00:07:56,541
[woman 2]
110
00:07:58,045 --> 00:07:58,944
[woman 2]
111
00:07:59,813 --> 00:08:01,046
She was pretty nervous.
112
00:08:01,147 --> 00:08:03,748
I mean, I could see
that she understood
113
00:08:03,817 --> 00:08:06,351
how significant this whole
situation was.
114
00:08:06,419 --> 00:08:09,588
She's got a family member
that's involved in something
uh, bad,
115
00:08:09,590 --> 00:08:11,957
so, she was scared for him.
116
00:08:14,962 --> 00:08:16,595
[woman 2]
117
00:08:18,398 --> 00:08:19,798
[woman 2]
118
00:08:22,035 --> 00:08:22,701
[Devonita]
119
00:08:28,609 --> 00:08:29,608
[Devonita]
120
00:08:38,952 --> 00:08:40,051
[Devonita]
121
00:08:40,053 --> 00:08:41,219
[woman]
122
00:08:41,221 --> 00:08:42,687
[gunshots]
123
00:08:42,689 --> 00:08:45,357
[woman 2 screaming]
124
00:08:53,534 --> 00:08:56,234
We just start hearing gun fire
up above us.
125
00:08:58,505 --> 00:08:59,237
[operator]
126
00:08:59,339 --> 00:09:00,038
[woman screaming]
127
00:09:03,510 --> 00:09:05,410
[woman screaming]
128
00:09:31,605 --> 00:09:33,204
[Sgt. Kuehn] Gunfire is alwa
a surprise.
129
00:09:33,206 --> 00:09:35,340
Even though we're ready
for it,
130
00:09:35,409 --> 00:09:37,909
you never know if or when
it's going to happen.
131
00:09:38,579 --> 00:09:39,811
[woman 2]
132
00:09:40,881 --> 00:09:42,547
[Sgt. Kuehn] Everything
happened so quick.
133
00:09:47,588 --> 00:09:51,723
From the glimpse of hope
that, "Hey, we're about
to end this peacefully..."
134
00:09:51,792 --> 00:09:54,292
-[Devonita]
-[woman 2]
135
00:09:54,294 --> 00:09:56,060
[gunshots]
136
00:09:56,062 --> 00:09:58,630
[Sgt. Kuehn] ...then almost
immediately after shots
are being fired.
137
00:10:08,542 --> 00:10:11,309
[Sgt. Kuehn] With
the buildings all close,
the shot tackles,
138
00:10:11,311 --> 00:10:13,411
you don't realize how close
it is,
139
00:10:13,413 --> 00:10:15,246
till after the fact.
140
00:10:15,282 --> 00:10:17,382
But it was loud it. It...
141
00:10:17,384 --> 00:10:19,250
it threw us all off, you know.
142
00:10:19,286 --> 00:10:21,620
We're trying to figure out
what just happened,
143
00:10:25,392 --> 00:10:26,925
where did those shots
come from.
144
00:10:26,927 --> 00:10:29,594
[woman screaming]
145
00:10:36,303 --> 00:10:39,537
Officer Rowan has a rifle
in the car.
146
00:10:39,573 --> 00:10:41,906
We decide that he's going
to get his rifle out,
147
00:10:41,908 --> 00:10:45,744
aimed in the apartment
to keep an eye on it from
that, uh, angle.
148
00:11:01,628 --> 00:11:03,928
The entrance way to this,
149
00:11:03,997 --> 00:11:08,933
a stairwell, is just, uh,
a tunnel
150
00:11:09,069 --> 00:11:11,503
that goes three stories up
with stairwells.
151
00:11:12,939 --> 00:11:15,940
Tactically, he is at
an elevated position,
152
00:11:16,009 --> 00:11:19,811
so he's got better angles,
he's get better eye sight
on us, so...
153
00:11:19,813 --> 00:11:22,013
this is a very bad situatio
for us.
154
00:11:23,216 --> 00:11:24,749
We call it a fatal funnel.
155
00:11:35,796 --> 00:11:38,063
[indistinct shouting]
156
00:11:42,502 --> 00:11:46,738
So, we move back,
one stairwell to the east
of this location,
157
00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:48,306
to provide better cover
for us.
158
00:11:48,308 --> 00:11:49,107
[woman 2]
159
00:11:50,944 --> 00:11:56,114
[woman 2]
160
00:12:01,421 --> 00:12:03,722
[woman 2]
161
00:12:11,298 --> 00:12:14,566
[Sgt. Kuehn] At this point,
we know deadly forces are..
162
00:12:15,702 --> 00:12:16,867
in our grasp here.
163
00:12:16,869 --> 00:12:19,938
Uh, this person has already
shot somebody
164
00:12:20,039 --> 00:12:21,306
with a kid in the car.
165
00:12:21,308 --> 00:12:22,607
And now, he's shooting again
166
00:12:22,609 --> 00:12:24,008
So...
167
00:12:24,010 --> 00:12:26,444
we're-- we're ready
to return fire.
168
00:12:31,118 --> 00:12:33,118
[woman 2]
169
00:12:37,891 --> 00:12:39,224
[woman 2]
170
00:12:43,497 --> 00:12:44,496
[woman 2]
171
00:12:46,199 --> 00:12:47,932
[woman 2]
172
00:12:49,336 --> 00:12:50,935
[Devonita]
173
00:12:50,937 --> 00:12:54,606
-[woman 2]
-[woman 3]
174
00:12:56,343 --> 00:12:58,843
-[woman 2]
-[woman 3 crying]
175
00:12:59,913 --> 00:13:00,812
[Devonita]
176
00:13:00,814 --> 00:13:04,415
[woman 2]
177
00:13:10,090 --> 00:13:12,423
[Devonita]
178
00:13:13,226 --> 00:13:14,526
-[woman 2]
-[Devonita]
179
00:13:14,627 --> 00:13:16,060
[woman 2]
180
00:13:16,129 --> 00:13:19,397
[Devonita]
181
00:13:19,399 --> 00:13:22,300
-[woman 2]
-[woman 3]
182
00:13:27,207 --> 00:13:28,606
[woman 2]
183
00:13:29,810 --> 00:13:32,310
-[Devonita]
-[woman 2]
184
00:13:32,312 --> 00:13:35,013
-[Devonita]
-[woman 2]
185
00:13:35,015 --> 00:13:37,015
[officer 5]
186
00:13:38,351 --> 00:13:41,052
-[woman 3]
-[officer]
187
00:13:41,054 --> 00:13:43,021
-[woman 3]
-[officer]
188
00:13:43,023 --> 00:13:46,958
-[woman 3]
-[officer]
189
00:13:47,060 --> 00:13:48,960
[woman 3]
190
00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:55,200
[woman 3]
191
00:13:57,804 --> 00:13:59,237
[woman 2]
192
00:14:08,615 --> 00:14:09,747
[woman 2]
193
00:14:25,699 --> 00:14:26,998
[Devonita]
194
00:14:28,101 --> 00:14:30,034
-[officer 1]
-[officer 2]
195
00:14:30,103 --> 00:14:31,869
[officer 1]
196
00:14:57,097 --> 00:15:00,698
[Sgt. Kuehn] Devonita seeme
pretty calm to me.
He just walked out.
197
00:15:02,102 --> 00:15:03,134
He listened to our orders.
198
00:15:03,203 --> 00:15:04,636
We-- we handcuffed him.
199
00:15:04,737 --> 00:15:06,504
I don't remember him really
saying much
200
00:15:06,506 --> 00:15:08,806
but he was pretty calm.
Seemed to me.
201
00:15:09,643 --> 00:15:11,042
[Devonita]
202
00:15:18,685 --> 00:15:20,551
Yeah. It's-- it's weird,
203
00:15:20,620 --> 00:15:24,522
you know, that,
just he's so calm when
everything's so tense.
204
00:15:56,323 --> 00:16:00,191
There was one bullet hole
through the driver
side window,
205
00:16:00,193 --> 00:16:04,095
uh, right near where my head
would be if I was sitting
in it.
206
00:16:04,097 --> 00:16:06,497
And there was one through
the hood.
207
00:16:06,499 --> 00:16:09,300
Not that many rounds
were fired off. I don't recall
how many,
208
00:16:09,302 --> 00:16:15,039
but the fact that two of them
hit my patrol vehicle
and nothing else right there,
209
00:16:15,041 --> 00:16:18,009
tells me he's trying
to kill us or or injure us.
210
00:16:18,011 --> 00:16:21,412
It puts it in perspective
how close I could have
been to dying.
211
00:16:28,722 --> 00:16:29,687
[woman 2]
212
00:16:29,689 --> 00:16:31,322
[woman 2]
213
00:16:32,292 --> 00:16:33,191
[woman 2]
214
00:16:39,232 --> 00:16:40,231
-[woman 2]
-[woman 3] They always...
215
00:16:43,203 --> 00:16:43,835
[woman 2]
216
00:16:57,317 --> 00:16:58,416
[woman 2]
217
00:17:04,124 --> 00:17:04,789
[woman 4]
218
00:17:08,228 --> 00:17:09,494
[woman 4]
219
00:17:26,679 --> 00:17:29,113
[narrator] The victim
of the shooting survives.
220
00:17:30,216 --> 00:17:35,286
Her child, who was also
Blakes son, is uninjured.
221
00:17:35,288 --> 00:17:39,157
Devonita Darryl Blakes
is convicted on two counts
of assault
222
00:17:39,192 --> 00:17:42,093
with intent to murder,
child abuse,
223
00:17:42,095 --> 00:17:44,429
malicious destruction
of property
224
00:17:44,530 --> 00:17:46,798
and firearms offenses.
225
00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,902
He is sentenced to a maximu
of 25 years in prison.
226
00:17:50,904 --> 00:17:53,137
[Sgt. Kuehn] Twenty five jus
doesn't seem to me enough.
227
00:17:53,206 --> 00:17:55,506
Uh, it seems like it should
be longer.
228
00:17:56,476 --> 00:18:00,311
Uh, this guy has got no, uh...
229
00:18:00,313 --> 00:18:02,647
thought for life or care
for life,
230
00:18:03,316 --> 00:18:04,882
so...
231
00:18:04,984 --> 00:18:08,319
you wonder if that person
should ever be allowed
in society.
232
00:18:12,592 --> 00:18:15,593
Can the next 25 years in jail
fix him?
233
00:18:15,595 --> 00:18:17,128
I don't know. Possibly.
234
00:18:18,031 --> 00:18:20,031
-But...
-[gunshots]
235
00:18:20,033 --> 00:18:24,936
...I feel that people lose
the right once they make
decisions like this to...
236
00:18:25,004 --> 00:18:27,004
be a part of society.
237
00:18:33,012 --> 00:18:34,612
[narrator] In Florida's
Panhandle...
238
00:18:37,517 --> 00:18:39,617
is the beach town of Destin
239
00:18:42,789 --> 00:18:48,192
Lieutenant Brian Parkton
has patrolled these waters
since 2007.
240
00:18:48,194 --> 00:18:49,894
[Lt. Parkton] Destin is know
as the Emerald Coast.
241
00:18:49,896 --> 00:18:53,397
We have beautiful waters
and white beaches.
242
00:18:53,399 --> 00:18:56,434
It's a big
tourist destination.
243
00:18:56,503 --> 00:18:59,103
The members of the Marine Un
with the Oakland County
Sheriff's Office,
244
00:18:59,105 --> 00:19:02,073
they're responsible
for boating safety.
245
00:19:02,075 --> 00:19:05,376
Probably two-thirds
of the time spent on the water
246
00:19:05,378 --> 00:19:08,279
is dealing with people
that need assistance.
247
00:19:08,281 --> 00:19:12,383
Not everybody is familiar
with the waters and the tide
and the currents,
248
00:19:12,385 --> 00:19:15,520
so, there are people that get
themselves in bad situations.
249
00:19:16,723 --> 00:19:18,990
Although, our waters
are extremely beautiful,
250
00:19:18,992 --> 00:19:20,992
it can quickly change.
251
00:19:20,994 --> 00:19:25,396
We have the Destin Pass,
which leads out into
the Gulf of Mexico.
252
00:19:25,398 --> 00:19:29,367
It can be a very
treacherous inlet.
253
00:19:29,369 --> 00:19:32,136
The currents can get
extremely difficult.
254
00:19:32,238 --> 00:19:35,039
I hate to say it, but every
year we have a large
amount of drowning.
255
00:19:37,944 --> 00:19:41,279
It was the Friday before
Memorial Day weekend.
256
00:19:41,281 --> 00:19:43,915
It's, kind of, the kickoff
to summer,
257
00:19:43,917 --> 00:19:48,619
so, there's always
a large amount of vessels
on the water in this area.
258
00:19:49,589 --> 00:19:52,056
It was approximately 3:00 p.
259
00:19:52,124 --> 00:19:54,759
The call was from
a boat captain
260
00:19:54,761 --> 00:19:59,063
indicating that there
is a vessel that was
sinking in Destin pass.
261
00:20:00,934 --> 00:20:03,935
There was another Deputy
that was on the boat with me,
David Bowell.
262
00:20:05,939 --> 00:20:12,109
We were on the north west side
of the Destin Bridge.
263
00:20:15,114 --> 00:20:16,781
We weren't too far away,
264
00:20:16,783 --> 00:20:18,649
so, our response
was really quick.
265
00:20:19,953 --> 00:20:21,652
We really didn't know
what we were dealing with
266
00:20:21,721 --> 00:20:24,322
until we got on scene
and we were able to see.
267
00:20:25,825 --> 00:20:28,259
I immediately knew
this was a bad situation.
268
00:20:29,529 --> 00:20:32,196
We had a extremely strong
outgoing current.
269
00:20:32,198 --> 00:20:36,534
You have a vessel with a lot
of people on it that is unable
to fight that current.
270
00:20:36,603 --> 00:20:39,237
Even worse, there was a dred
in the path.
271
00:20:42,108 --> 00:20:44,742
[Sgt. Bowell] The dredge pum
sand up from the gulf
272
00:20:44,844 --> 00:20:48,813
through a pretty large pipe
and dumps it onto the beach,
273
00:20:49,482 --> 00:20:52,183
kind of like a big vacuum.
274
00:20:52,185 --> 00:20:55,219
The vessel that was working
with the dredge equipment,
275
00:20:55,221 --> 00:20:59,123
they had the vessel underto
doing the best they can
276
00:20:59,125 --> 00:21:01,325
to try and pull them away.
277
00:21:02,128 --> 00:21:03,794
But...
278
00:21:03,796 --> 00:21:07,765
with the vessel floundering
and not having any way
to steer itself or anything,
279
00:21:07,767 --> 00:21:09,600
they were at the whim
of the currents.
280
00:21:09,602 --> 00:21:13,337
They could be pulled into
the dredge equipment
and pinned against there,
281
00:21:13,406 --> 00:21:18,309
or, uh, pulled under
the equipment and be pulled
out into the Gulf of Mexico.
282
00:21:27,387 --> 00:21:30,388
[Sgt. Bowell] The back
of the boat was definitely
starting to take on water.
283
00:21:30,390 --> 00:21:32,390
They had scared looks
on their face.
284
00:21:32,392 --> 00:21:34,325
They were wanting us to com
and get them.
285
00:21:39,432 --> 00:21:40,598
[Lt. Parkton] They
were panicking.
286
00:21:44,604 --> 00:21:46,504
There was a female in the back
of the boat
287
00:21:46,506 --> 00:21:48,506
that, I think, was wanting
to jump off.
288
00:21:52,779 --> 00:21:55,046
You have to remain calm.
289
00:21:55,114 --> 00:21:57,782
When you panic, you may put
yourself in a position
290
00:21:57,784 --> 00:22:00,217
that's even worse than
the position that you're
currently in.
291
00:22:04,590 --> 00:22:07,792
I'm very limited
on my maneuverability
and my capabilities,
292
00:22:07,794 --> 00:22:09,327
especially in this current.
293
00:22:10,830 --> 00:22:14,298
My initial thought was to go
ahead and start planning
for the worst.
294
00:22:20,206 --> 00:22:24,942
[narrator] Destin Beach
lifeguard, Hunter Ruddell,
is on duty nearby.
295
00:22:24,944 --> 00:22:28,946
Any second wasted
might be someone's life.
296
00:22:28,948 --> 00:22:32,249
I got on the jet ski in maybe
a minute or less.
297
00:22:36,189 --> 00:22:38,422
The jet ski goes really fast
298
00:22:39,392 --> 00:22:41,692
You could maneuver
it a lot better.
299
00:22:42,362 --> 00:22:44,295
You have a sled.
300
00:22:44,297 --> 00:22:47,331
It can easily get a patient
on and off,
301
00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:51,102
and it's almost dummy-proof
302
00:22:51,104 --> 00:22:55,206
I knew that this was going
to be something serious.
303
00:22:55,208 --> 00:23:00,411
I could definitely feel
how fast the current
was really pushing it.
304
00:23:00,413 --> 00:23:03,414
Things could go very bad
in a matter of seconds.
305
00:23:06,319 --> 00:23:08,052
Everything happened
very quickly.
306
00:23:14,293 --> 00:23:15,826
The line snapped on the boat
307
00:23:18,297 --> 00:23:22,032
[Lt. Parkton] I don't know
if it ripped or it broke,
308
00:23:22,101 --> 00:23:24,702
but my heart dropped
and I knew it was
a bad situation.
309
00:23:26,739 --> 00:23:28,305
I knew we were going
to have drownings.
310
00:23:28,941 --> 00:23:30,474
It wasn't a matter of, if,
311
00:23:30,476 --> 00:23:31,909
it was a matter of, how many.
312
00:23:45,792 --> 00:23:48,292
[Lt. Parkton] The Destin Pas
was exceptionally rough.
313
00:23:48,294 --> 00:23:50,394
It was testing
my capabilities.
314
00:23:50,396 --> 00:23:53,697
As the vessel rolls,
you can see it putting
people in the water.
315
00:23:53,699 --> 00:23:57,101
And as the current begins
to pull out even harder...
316
00:23:57,103 --> 00:23:59,537
It'll pull them under
with or without the vest.
317
00:24:02,608 --> 00:24:05,242
You can get smashed against
the rocks,
318
00:24:05,244 --> 00:24:08,412
pulled underneath and trapped
underneath the dredge
or the pollens that are there.
319
00:24:10,383 --> 00:24:12,283
We had no time to waste.
320
00:24:12,285 --> 00:24:17,087
But I couldn't get up there
close because I needed to no
get us in trouble.
321
00:24:17,089 --> 00:24:19,590
The, uh, rescuer doesn't need
to become the rescued.
322
00:24:25,031 --> 00:24:27,798
Thankfully, the wave runner
showed up on scene.
323
00:24:28,935 --> 00:24:30,401
[woman]
324
00:24:31,337 --> 00:24:32,536
[Lt. Parkton]
325
00:24:32,638 --> 00:24:34,438
[Sgt. Bowell] I was relieved
326
00:24:34,540 --> 00:24:37,107
They just shot in between
us and the boat.
327
00:24:37,109 --> 00:24:38,742
[Hunter] It was
pretty chaotic.
328
00:24:38,811 --> 00:24:41,111
There was a lot of panic.
There was a lot of screaming
329
00:24:42,782 --> 00:24:44,682
The first thing that
I thought was,
330
00:24:44,684 --> 00:24:48,052
I need to get these people
somewhere that they're safe.
331
00:24:50,590 --> 00:24:52,957
[Lt. Parkton] He quickly
became engaged.
332
00:24:53,025 --> 00:24:57,261
He didn't wait for direction
from myself or anybody else.
333
00:24:57,263 --> 00:25:02,099
[Hunter] The first person
that I got on my jet ski
was a young kid.
334
00:25:06,939 --> 00:25:09,740
[Lt. Parkton] I tried to ge
as close as I could
but safely.
335
00:25:09,809 --> 00:25:13,444
It was a consistent battle
of driving the vessel
336
00:25:13,513 --> 00:25:15,145
and maintaining
it in those waters.
337
00:25:21,354 --> 00:25:23,120
Our whole process is,
338
00:25:23,122 --> 00:25:26,056
get them off that [indistinct]
as quick as we can
and get him back over there
339
00:25:46,779 --> 00:25:49,146
We still weren't sure
of how many people
we had in the water.
340
00:25:57,189 --> 00:26:00,824
[Hunter] Went back.
I got another on the back
of the sled.
341
00:26:09,001 --> 00:26:11,101
It didn't help that
it was choppy.
342
00:26:11,103 --> 00:26:12,202
Grab him! Grab him!
343
00:26:13,039 --> 00:26:14,104
[Lt. Parkton] Come on!
Come on!
344
00:26:14,106 --> 00:26:15,339
[Sgt. Bowell] The water
was pretty rough.
345
00:26:15,441 --> 00:26:16,507
It was scary.
346
00:26:16,509 --> 00:26:18,509
[operator 1 on radio]
347
00:26:18,511 --> 00:26:21,412
[operator 2 on radio]
348
00:26:24,083 --> 00:26:25,516
[operator 3 on radio]
349
00:26:26,552 --> 00:26:27,585
[Lt. Parkton]
350
00:26:27,587 --> 00:26:28,452
Is everybody here?
351
00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:29,687
At the time it was all hecti
352
00:26:29,689 --> 00:26:33,090
we had multiple different
agencies involved.
353
00:26:33,092 --> 00:26:37,695
The United States Coast Guar
the Destin Fire Department
and Destin Beach Safety.
354
00:26:37,697 --> 00:26:40,264
So, I wasn't sure how many
other people
355
00:26:40,266 --> 00:26:42,132
have been pulled from
the water from other agencies.
356
00:26:49,609 --> 00:26:51,642
[Sgt. Bowell] We're trying
to get a solid number.
357
00:26:51,744 --> 00:26:54,511
Was everyone out of the water?
Are we still missing anyone?
358
00:26:54,513 --> 00:26:56,747
Did someone go under
the dredge pipe?
359
00:26:56,815 --> 00:26:58,816
Did someone get pulled out
into the gulf?
360
00:27:03,155 --> 00:27:05,623
[Sgt. Bowell] The kids were
looking for
their mom.
361
00:27:05,724 --> 00:27:07,625
The mom, had gone.
362
00:27:11,197 --> 00:27:14,732
[Lt. Parkton] It appeared th
she's going to be pulled ou
into the Gulf of Mexico.
363
00:27:17,036 --> 00:27:18,836
[Sgt. Bowell] There's alway
current coming in.
364
00:27:18,937 --> 00:27:20,237
It's just churns.
365
00:27:20,239 --> 00:27:22,139
You're going to ride
that current until it spits
you out.
366
00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:30,014
[Lt. Parkton] I start tellin
the other Marine units that
367
00:27:30,016 --> 00:27:32,349
"Hey! They need to get
around to the other side
of the barge."
368
00:27:32,418 --> 00:27:34,818
[operator 4 on radio]
369
00:27:41,927 --> 00:27:44,495
We identified that Mom
and one of the brothers
370
00:27:44,497 --> 00:27:46,430
were picked up
on another boat.
371
00:27:46,499 --> 00:27:48,399
[operator 4 on radio]
372
00:27:50,803 --> 00:27:52,636
[Lt. Parkton]
373
00:27:52,738 --> 00:27:55,205
I heard from several people
that there was nine.
374
00:27:55,207 --> 00:27:57,541
[operator 4 on radio]
375
00:28:01,947 --> 00:28:03,547
[Lt. Parkton]
376
00:28:03,649 --> 00:28:05,749
[operator 3 indistinct
on radio]
377
00:28:05,751 --> 00:28:07,818
[Lt. Parkton]
378
00:28:10,690 --> 00:28:12,890
We were able to gather
from that communication
379
00:28:12,892 --> 00:28:14,892
that, "Hey, we had everybody
at that time."
380
00:28:16,595 --> 00:28:20,531
[Sgt. Bowell] The family
that was on the boat
wanted to see the gulf.
381
00:28:20,632 --> 00:28:23,333
They were actually
from a neighboring town,
382
00:28:23,435 --> 00:28:25,736
and they went out and felt
how rough it is,
383
00:28:25,838 --> 00:28:28,605
and decided that they needed
to turn and come back.
384
00:28:28,607 --> 00:28:31,108
So, they attempted to turn
in the pass.
385
00:28:31,110 --> 00:28:33,110
And you can't do that.
386
00:28:33,112 --> 00:28:35,412
They were immediately
taken over by water.
387
00:28:37,116 --> 00:28:38,749
[Lt. Parkton] The vessel
motor quit,
388
00:28:38,784 --> 00:28:39,917
they lost power,
389
00:28:39,919 --> 00:28:41,585
and they began to flounder.
390
00:28:41,587 --> 00:28:44,455
And that point is when other
people recognized
that they needed assistance.
391
00:28:53,833 --> 00:28:57,401
The people that were
pulled out of the water
and put on our vessel,
392
00:28:57,403 --> 00:29:00,370
there were some that were
kind of in shock,
393
00:29:00,372 --> 00:29:02,840
some were pretty emotional.
394
00:29:02,908 --> 00:29:07,077
There was one young boy
that I grabbed and sat him u
on the helm chair beside me
395
00:29:07,079 --> 00:29:10,147
and just tried to tell him,
"Hey! Hey, young man.
All is good."
396
00:29:10,249 --> 00:29:13,250
There was another female
that was pretty emotional
on the front.
397
00:29:19,024 --> 00:29:20,757
[woman 1] We got five
on our boat.
398
00:29:22,027 --> 00:29:23,827
[Lt. Parkton] We started
heading back to the United
States Coast Guard.
399
00:29:33,205 --> 00:29:34,738
[Sgt. Bowell]
400
00:29:35,574 --> 00:29:37,340
[Lt. Parkton]
401
00:29:41,914 --> 00:29:45,082
Everybody that came out
of the water on this day
is extremely lucky.
402
00:29:45,084 --> 00:29:49,186
And if it wasn't for them
wearing life jackets,
403
00:29:49,188 --> 00:29:51,054
we would have, no doubt,
had drownings.
404
00:29:53,192 --> 00:29:57,594
It was one of the most
intense situations that
I've ever been in.
405
00:30:01,801 --> 00:30:04,301
[Hunter] We got back
to the Coast Guard station.
406
00:30:04,303 --> 00:30:06,403
The moms were hugging
their kids.
407
00:30:06,405 --> 00:30:08,272
That was a great feeling.
408
00:30:08,274 --> 00:30:12,009
I'm blessed to even just be
a part of Destin Beach Safety.
409
00:30:13,412 --> 00:30:16,380
[Lt. Parkton] This incident
will forever stick out
in my career
410
00:30:16,382 --> 00:30:19,783
just because of the amount
of people that were involved.
411
00:30:19,785 --> 00:30:23,153
[Sgt. Bowell] It's probably
one of the most dangerous
ones that I've seen.
412
00:30:23,222 --> 00:30:24,822
Fortunately, they all had
their vests on.
413
00:30:24,890 --> 00:30:27,891
We did our jobs
and they're safe.
414
00:30:30,629 --> 00:30:35,399
[narrator] In Michigan,
between Lake St. Clair
and Lake Erie,
415
00:30:35,401 --> 00:30:37,401
lies the city of Wyandotte.
416
00:30:43,209 --> 00:30:44,908
[Officer Worley] I grew up
in Wyandotte my whole life.
417
00:30:44,910 --> 00:30:48,946
Uh, I always want to be
a police officer
since I was a little kid.
418
00:30:48,948 --> 00:30:50,347
Grew up with no dad.
419
00:30:50,416 --> 00:30:51,514
You know, it's something
for a kid
420
00:30:51,516 --> 00:30:54,117
for their father to walk out
of their life and...
421
00:30:54,119 --> 00:30:57,154
um, I always looked up
to Wyandotte Police.
422
00:31:06,532 --> 00:31:08,799
[911 operator on phone]
423
00:31:09,401 --> 00:31:10,601
[man 1]
424
00:31:17,343 --> 00:31:18,575
[911 operator on phone]
425
00:31:18,577 --> 00:31:22,045
[man 1]
426
00:31:25,084 --> 00:31:26,984
[Officer Worley] That night
I had a call.
427
00:31:26,986 --> 00:31:31,388
Few suspects breaking
into something in the area
of Elm Street.
428
00:31:31,390 --> 00:31:35,359
As I arrived, I was checking
down the alley's,
checking each street,
429
00:31:35,427 --> 00:31:39,229
seeing if I could find, mayb
anybody out there
committing a crime.
430
00:31:42,001 --> 00:31:43,367
[door closes]
431
00:31:44,703 --> 00:31:47,037
[Officer Worley] I see a van
A white van in the alleyway
432
00:31:57,283 --> 00:32:01,285
I knew from the way he held
himself that he was
on the lookout,
433
00:32:01,287 --> 00:32:03,020
and there was a crime
being committed.
434
00:32:31,050 --> 00:32:33,450
The passenger of the van
took off
435
00:32:33,518 --> 00:32:35,652
'cause he knew I was zoned
in on the driver.
436
00:32:39,491 --> 00:32:42,292
As I'm chasing the van,
he puts it in drive
437
00:32:42,294 --> 00:32:43,794
and he starts driving at me
438
00:32:45,197 --> 00:32:46,430
He's coming at me.
439
00:32:49,601 --> 00:32:50,901
Do I jump out of the way?
440
00:32:50,903 --> 00:32:52,636
Do I shoot the suspect?
441
00:33:00,346 --> 00:33:01,545
[Officer Worley] I jumped out
of the way
442
00:33:01,580 --> 00:33:04,014
and the van brushed
me as I jumped out of the way.
443
00:33:05,317 --> 00:33:06,850
At this time, I'm by myself
444
00:33:06,919 --> 00:33:08,552
Do I go after the driver?
445
00:33:08,620 --> 00:33:10,921
Or do I stay
with the passenger?
446
00:33:10,923 --> 00:33:13,690
Well, we are always taught,
you take the driver.
447
00:33:18,731 --> 00:33:21,331
As he drove off and crashes
into my police truck.
448
00:33:22,301 --> 00:33:24,301
But I noticed my truck
is still drivable.
449
00:33:26,505 --> 00:33:28,405
[Officer Groat]
450
00:33:28,407 --> 00:33:29,940
[Officer Worley]
451
00:33:39,218 --> 00:33:41,251
[siren wailing]
452
00:33:42,488 --> 00:33:44,154
[Officer Worley]
453
00:33:55,601 --> 00:33:57,234
I realized pretty quickly
454
00:33:57,335 --> 00:34:00,303
that the pursuit was heading
right towards where
I was coming from.
455
00:34:05,511 --> 00:34:08,345
I see the white, uh,
white panel van go past me.
456
00:34:08,413 --> 00:34:10,113
[Officer Groat on radio]
457
00:34:11,884 --> 00:34:14,451
So, at that point,
I joined in the pursuit
behind Officer Worley
458
00:34:14,519 --> 00:34:16,319
and became the second car
in the pursuit.
459
00:34:20,292 --> 00:34:24,094
For us, the second car always
calls out all that stuff
on the radio
460
00:34:24,096 --> 00:34:25,896
because it's a safer way
to do it.
461
00:34:25,898 --> 00:34:29,599
Um, you have a little bit
more distance between
you and the suspect vehicle.
462
00:34:29,601 --> 00:34:34,204
That way the primary officer
in the pursuit can just focus
on driving,
463
00:34:34,206 --> 00:34:37,707
um, and making
sure they're doing
everything safely.
464
00:34:37,709 --> 00:34:39,309
[Officer Groat on radio]
465
00:34:40,512 --> 00:34:42,112
[Officer Worley]
466
00:34:50,522 --> 00:34:53,690
Officer Groat's behind me,
calling out the pursuit
as we go in.
467
00:34:53,692 --> 00:34:56,793
He's doing an excellent job,
keeping calm. Phenomenal job.
468
00:35:24,223 --> 00:35:31,128
[Officer Worley]
469
00:35:32,498 --> 00:35:34,397
[Officer Groat]
470
00:35:46,512 --> 00:35:48,912
[Officer Worley] We come up
to a busy intersection.
471
00:35:48,914 --> 00:35:51,481
There's a female driver
in a sedan.
472
00:35:51,483 --> 00:35:53,550
[Officer Groat] The suspect
tried to make a left-hand tu
473
00:35:53,618 --> 00:35:55,619
and did not see
this other vehicle.
474
00:36:05,397 --> 00:36:08,832
[Officer Worley] I'm runnin
up to the suspect
in the driver's seat.
475
00:36:08,934 --> 00:36:10,100
I'm trying to get him out
476
00:36:10,102 --> 00:36:11,801
and he's fighting me
as I'm trying to get him out.
477
00:36:19,912 --> 00:36:21,711
And I actually mace him.
I pepper sprayed him.
478
00:36:24,616 --> 00:36:28,418
And he put his van in drive
to take off as I was trying
to pull him out.
479
00:36:29,121 --> 00:36:30,887
[Officer Groat]
480
00:36:33,425 --> 00:36:36,193
At this point, I'm kind
of like in the van
to a sense,
481
00:36:36,195 --> 00:36:37,994
so, I can't exit.
482
00:36:37,996 --> 00:36:40,096
And he started dragging
and pulling me.
483
00:36:40,098 --> 00:36:42,566
You hear it all the time
on the news that,
484
00:36:42,568 --> 00:36:44,634
you know, an officer is kill
in the line of duty.
485
00:36:44,736 --> 00:36:48,505
And, you know, I have
a daughter on the way
that I haven't even met yet.
486
00:36:48,507 --> 00:36:50,340
She doesn't know her dad
and I don't know her.
487
00:36:53,212 --> 00:36:55,645
Maybe, you know, my daughte
won't know her dad.
488
00:36:55,681 --> 00:36:57,814
You know, she would grow up
without a father.
489
00:37:00,786 --> 00:37:02,319
There was a lot going
through my head.
490
00:37:08,627 --> 00:37:11,761
[siren wailing]
491
00:37:11,763 --> 00:37:13,597
[Officer Worley] I would say
it was, uh, by God
492
00:37:13,599 --> 00:37:16,199
that, you know, I was able
to separate myself,
493
00:37:16,201 --> 00:37:18,201
and jump clear of the van,
494
00:37:18,203 --> 00:37:21,004
because this man
wants to get away.
495
00:37:21,006 --> 00:37:23,473
He doesn't care what it takes,
the suspect wants to get away.
496
00:37:23,475 --> 00:37:25,308
He wants to evade the police
497
00:37:25,310 --> 00:37:27,410
So, at that very moment,
I just had a job to do.
498
00:37:27,946 --> 00:37:29,112
To stop the threat.
499
00:37:46,498 --> 00:37:49,099
[siren wailing]
500
00:37:49,101 --> 00:37:52,702
It was very apparent
to me that the van had taken
heavy front end damage.
501
00:38:31,009 --> 00:38:32,842
[officer on radio]
502
00:38:33,545 --> 00:38:34,411
[Officer Worley]
503
00:38:36,348 --> 00:38:38,682
His van was in bad shape.
504
00:38:38,684 --> 00:38:40,049
His tire was gone.
505
00:38:40,118 --> 00:38:42,485
We were shocked that he coul
even continue the pursuit,
506
00:38:42,487 --> 00:38:44,654
that he would even try
and flee at this point
507
00:38:44,723 --> 00:38:48,058
because you're not
getting away, your front tir
is ready to fall off.
508
00:39:29,468 --> 00:39:31,334
[Edgar]
509
00:39:37,776 --> 00:39:40,110
[Officer Worley] Once again
I take my pepper spray
and I pepper sprayed him
510
00:39:40,112 --> 00:39:43,813
to disable his eyes,
so, he can't see,
to fight us anymore.
511
00:39:44,683 --> 00:39:46,316
We want to stop it.
512
00:39:46,318 --> 00:39:48,051
We want him to be safe
and we want other people
to be safe.
513
00:39:48,053 --> 00:39:50,787
Because if he's trying to ge
a gun to shoot one of us,
you have no clue.
514
00:39:50,789 --> 00:39:52,055
You don't know who's
in that van.
515
00:39:58,230 --> 00:39:59,062
[officer 2]
516
00:40:13,812 --> 00:40:15,445
[Edgar]
517
00:40:15,514 --> 00:40:17,213
[Officer Worley]
518
00:40:22,988 --> 00:40:24,654
[Edgar]
519
00:40:40,372 --> 00:40:44,140
[narrator] Edgar Lebron
is on probation
and is taken to jail.
520
00:40:45,710 --> 00:40:48,311
The woman in the side
of the vehicle,
the suspect hit,
521
00:40:48,313 --> 00:40:51,381
um, was able to leave
the scene without
any injuries.
522
00:40:51,383 --> 00:40:53,450
That is a big relief
to all of us.
523
00:40:55,921 --> 00:40:59,322
[Officer Worley] It was suc
a relief knowing that
the pursuit has ended,
524
00:41:00,592 --> 00:41:04,794
we got him in handcuffs,
nobody's injured,
nobody got killed.
525
00:41:04,796 --> 00:41:07,297
Um, he's going to jail.
526
00:41:07,299 --> 00:41:09,666
He's safe. We are safe.
527
00:41:09,668 --> 00:41:12,869
Everybody gets to live
another day, basically.
528
00:41:12,871 --> 00:41:14,637
[narrator] Following
a plea bargain,
529
00:41:14,639 --> 00:41:19,442
Lebron is convicted
of felonious assault
with a dangerous weapon.
530
00:41:19,544 --> 00:41:23,913
The judge sentences
him to 15 months
to eight years in prison.
531
00:41:25,383 --> 00:41:27,951
His accomplice
was never charged.
532
00:41:29,120 --> 00:41:31,287
The marijuana plants
they stole
533
00:41:31,289 --> 00:41:33,823
had been grown legally
for medical use,
534
00:41:33,925 --> 00:41:37,727
and had an estimated value
of $13,000.
535
00:41:45,036 --> 00:41:46,936
[Officer Worley] My daughte
was going to be here,
536
00:41:46,938 --> 00:41:49,105
I think, I had another, like
six weeks to go.
537
00:41:51,309 --> 00:41:52,909
You know, I'm religious.
I believe in God,
538
00:41:52,911 --> 00:41:54,511
and I said, "You know
what, God? Thank you.
539
00:41:54,513 --> 00:41:56,346
Thank you for allowing
me to see another day.
540
00:41:56,414 --> 00:41:59,682
Thank you for allowing
me to meet my daughter."
541
00:41:59,684 --> 00:42:01,417
I'm a new dad
and it's amazing.
542
00:42:01,419 --> 00:42:03,319
It's-- it's the best job ever.