Sheriff honors deputies for saving man's life
From left, Undersheriff Steve Trollope, dispatcher Brandon Church, Deputy Ryan Funke, EMT Anita Parkin, EMT Angie Parkin and Sheriff Boone.
Mineral County Sheriff Mike Boone recently lauded the efforts of two of his deputies, who worked to save a man’s life earlier this year.
According to information from Boone, at midnight, Sunday, March 3, a 911 dispatcher with the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man who was outside near the C-Store in Haugan. The caller said the man appeared to be highly intoxicated, and due to the frigid temperatures, the caller expressed concern for the man’s welfare.
Deputy A.J. Allard and Deputy Ryan Funk were dispatched to the scene.
When they arrived, the deputies were unable to locate the man. The deputies met with the caller inside the business and he said the man walked away from the store on the Haugan/DeBorgia Frontage road about 90 minutes before their arrival.
Both deputies worked to find the man as soon as possible because temperatures were about 3 degrees above zero. Allard found the man in a snow bank near the C-Store. Although conscious, the male appeared injured and lethargic. Blood was found in several areas near him and the deputies identified a large bruise on the back of the man’s head. The deputies were called and emergency medical services were called.
As they waited, deputies made the man as comfortable as possible by bundling him in blankets, placing him in the warm patrol vehicle and monitoring his injuries. Emergency medical personnel arrived and initially transported the injured man to the Mineral Community Hospital for immediate care. He was later transported to a Missoula hospital with diagnoses of frostbite and hypothermia.
In such rural and remote areas as Mineral County, dedication and collaboration among citizens, law enforcement and emergency responders are critical to serve the community and save lives, according to Sheriff Boone.
“The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office honors and appreciates the individual who was willing to call in his concern for another and the diligent response and care provided by Deputies Allard and Funke and the volunteer emergency responders,” Boone said.