{"id":13687,"date":"2016-02-01T20:23:44","date_gmt":"2016-02-01T20:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=13687"},"modified":"2016-02-01T20:23:44","modified_gmt":"2016-02-01T20:23:44","slug":"officials-gun-toting-veteran-saves-life-of-bastrop-deputy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/georgiaarsoncontrol.org\/?p=13687","title":{"rendered":"Officials: Gun-toting veteran saves life of Bastrop deputy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Watch the report HERE\u203a\u203a<\/a><\/p>\n

Perkins\u2019 actions caused the suspect to leave Dorris and flee, before he was detained and taken into custody by another deputy and Dorris shortly after.<\/p>\n

Kenton Desean Fryer, 32, of Arkansas was arrested on charges of aggravated assault of a public servant, taking an officer\u2019s weapon, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle and driving while under the influence with a child under 15. He is in Bastrop County Jail on $50,000 bail.<\/p>\n

Before Perkins intervened, Dorris arrived at the scene at Watterson Road off Texas 304 close to 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 16 in response to a report of a man driving erratically with one of his children in the vehicle, officials said. When Dorris tried to stop the vehicle, the man drove away and then pulled into a gas station.<\/p>\n

The man then resisted arrest and that\u2019s when the fight ensued, Dorris said.<\/p>\n

At a time when anti-law enforcement sentiment is seen in many parts of the country, Perkins\u2019 decision to intervene and help Dorris has touched many in the Bastrop sheriff\u2019s department.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis day and time, a lot of people would just drive by and keep going,\u201d said Sgt. James Davenport, who was the supervising officer of the incident. \u201cTo see someone that will stop and help is special.\u201d<\/p>\n

The few minutes when Dorris was fighting with the suspect and couldn\u2019t check in with dispatchers felt like an eternity, Bastrop County sheriff\u2019s dispatcher Ruth Amy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very emotional, very emotional,\u201d Amy said. \u201cYou go into a mode, for a lack of a better term, you go into an emergency mode and you just do what you have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

In those moments, Dorris remembers fearing for his life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember thinking stay in the fight. Just keep fighting, keep fighting. Do whatever you can do, just stay alive you need to go home,\u201d Dorris said. He was transported to the hospital and treated for minor injuries that night.<\/p>\n

Deputy David Newman, who was the first officer to respond on the scene to assist Dorris, commended Perkins\u2019 quick and calm thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith his training and background he wasn\u2019t able to interfere, but able to assist and that was a very key and crucial part of this incident,\u201d Newman said.<\/p>\n

But Perkins, who served two tours in Iraq as a Marine, doesn\u2019t see himself as a hero.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnytime somebody is in need of help you should assist them. It doesn\u2019t matter whether your life is in danger or not, you should always assist anybody who is in need,\u201d Perkins said.<\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"