Lacey Police lauds officer for arresting suspect-at-large, then saving overdose victim

A Lacey police officer was able to revive an overdose victim while making an arrest on a wanted suspect Thursday. September 21.

“One of our officers conducted an area check in an area on private property where people tend to hang out and do drugs; the area has been a concern for business owners and citizens alike,” Lacey Police Department stated in a social media post.

The officer approached a group of people and informed them that they were not allowed to hang out on private property.

As the group began to disperse, the officer recognized one of the individuals from prior interactions and suspected the person might have an outstanding warrant.

Then he requested dispatch to run a background check on the person.

While maintaining a conversation with the subject, the officer received confirmation from dispatch that the individual had an active felony warrant.

When the officer went to make the arrest, the suspect made an attempt to escape, but the officer was able to “catch up to (the subject), tackle, and place the subject in handcuffs.”

As the officer awaited the arrival of a Community Service officer to transport the arrested suspect to jail, he received a distress call that one of the individuals from the initial encounter had overdosed and was unconscious in the nearby bushes.

The officer quickly placed the arrested suspect at the back of his patrol car, rushed to the bushes, where he found an unconscious male, and initiated CPR and Narcan.

The officer continued performing CPR until Lacey Fire District Three arrived upon the scene. The overdose victim eventually regained consciousness and was urged to go to the hospital, but he refused.

“To summarize, in one call, our officer arrested someone after having to take them to the ground, and then immediately turned around and saved a life,” Lacey Police Department said, “all the while maintaining his professionalism, composure and ability to think on his feet.”

“After this, he went on to the next call, as he does every day,” Lacey PD added.