A Good Samaritan who recently jumped in to help a Red Deer RCMP Officer, dealing with an individual who was resisting arrest, was recognized for his bravery today.

(Lonnie Amundson, a City of Red Deer employee, recognized by Red Deer RCMP today for bravery)

Lonnie Amundson is a Public Works employee with the City of Red Deer; he's an avid rugby player and has 30 years of security experience at the Centrium.

 

The Officer was dealing with an unruly individual; he deployed his pepper spray, but was cross contaminated by the spray and partially disabled as a result.

He recounts the events that day.

“I was just in the drive-thru at Dairy Queen, waiting for my burger, and I heard a police siren and it draws your attention to it, and all of a sudden I saw the individual running away from the police officer and I didn’t think twice, I just put my car, my truck in park and ran after him and tackled him”.

Inspector Ken Foster and Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer awarded him with a plaque for his efforts, and he was beyond thrilled to be recognized.

“It’s a highlight of my life, you know, there’s not too many times in your life where you are acknowledged by law.  You know the birth of your child is special; your marriage is special, but this goes up there because at the end of the day there’s not too many people that can say they legally got to tackle somebody and assist a police officer”.

Foster noted, while they don't encourage members of the public to place themselves in harm’s way, assistance from residents is quite common, whether it be holding shoplifters, individuals jumping into fights in progress or the reporting of impaired drivers.

When asked if he would do it again, Amundson was quick to answer.

“In a heartbeat.  I would do it if there was a lady running down the street chasing after a guy with her purse.  I think we’re losing that kind of aspect in society right now, no one wants to go over and above and do things because of the fear of ‘what if’, what if he has a knife, what if he has this, or what if I get hurt’, I didn’t think of that at the time and I think sometimes it’s good, we shouldn’t have barriers”.

A group of business owners from Save-on-Foods, McDonalds, and Tim Hortons in Red Deer were also recognized for their combined efforts to help reduce crime at the East Hill Shopping Centre last year.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada was also recognized for their social media campaign, with partnerships with the RCMP and Edmonton Police Service, aimed at reducing crime through social awareness.