Behind the Badge
A passerby carrying a concealed weapon shot and killed a suspect assaulting a Lee County Sheriff’s deputy on the off-ramp of a Florida highway.
Witnesses told police the deputy tried to pull over a man driving a blue Toyota, but the driver would not stop. Reaching speeds up to 100 miles an hour, the driver eventually pulled over on an off-ramp, ABC 7 News reported.
The suspect then got out of the car, pulled the deputy from his patrol vehicle and started beating him.
A witness told police the man wouldn’t let up on his attack and continued to viciously punch the deputy.
Another driver saw the scene, pulled over and drew his gun while yelling at the suspect to stop beating the officer. When the suspect failed to stop the assault, the man fatally shot the suspect, ABC reported.
The deputy attacked, Dean Bardes, was hospitalized but is expected to recover from his injuries.
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott posted a message on Facebook Wednesday morning to applaud the man for intervening and potentially saving Bardes’ life.
“I thank the hero that recognized the imminent threat, rushed to Deputy Bardes’ aid, and ultimately stopped that threat,” Scott wrote. “In a day and age where race is a near instant focus for media and other pundits in police incidents, the fact is that this hero happens to be a man of color who stopped another man of color from further harming or killing a white cop; thereby reminding us that black lives matter, blue lives matter, and indeed all life matters.”
He added the man’s gun, which was permitted, was taken as evidence. The gun company Shoot Straight immediately issued a man a new firearm.
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