On January 2nd of this year, Deputies Tim Patterson and Jonathan Duenas were called to provide K-9 support to the Crestview Police Department SWAT team. The C-P-D was serving a felony search warrant on at least two suspects who had been involved in an earlier shooting and were known to carry multiple firearms.
The two handlers positioned themselves on the backside of the house as the SWAT team readied to enter, using two flash bangs. Gunfire erupted immediately at the front of the residence and Deputies Patterson and Duenas saw three members of the SWAT team fall off the porch and onto the ground. Deputy Duenas noticed a man exiting the back door and trying to escape. He released K9 “Diesel” to apprehend him.
The suspect had been shot and Deputy Duenas recalled “Diesel” and continued maintaining security until the all clear was given.
Deputy Patterson and K9 “Dax” were called to the front to clear the residence. They led a safe and successful clearing of the home, including checking the crawl space underneath, and then securing the surrounding area in the back until relieved by the Crestview Police Department. Their actions while bullets were literally flying around them showed exceptional courage or bravery while rendering service and apprehending a person who has committed a serious crime. The ability of Deputies Patterson and Duenas to remain calm under these circumstances, push through danger to apprehend the suspect, identify other potential dangers, and assure crime scene preservation warrants the MEDAL OF MERIT.
