‘Hometown heroes’ honored at Daleville City Council

“You don’t find heroes every day,” is how Allen Medley introduced two Daleville men being honored for selfless actions above the call of duty at the Daleville City Council meeting Jan. 18.

Medley is the Daleville Department of Public Safety Director and Police Chief. City of Daleville Water Department employee Patrick Sullen and Jeremiah Barrett, an employee of Loves Travel Stop in Ozark, were each presented certificates of appreciation by Medley in connection with two separate incidents that occurred Jan. 5.

“Last week we had a couple of car chases,” Medley said, commending the performance and professionalism of the DPS law officers involved in each incident. “I want to recognize a couple of people who stepped up to do the right thing.

“In this day and time, to step right up and do the right thing means a lot,” Medley said introducing Sullen and Barrett. “These two people did that and the city should be very proud of them.

“Pat played a key role in aiding officers who were struggling to detain the suspect from the first high speed pursuit that took place Wednesday, Jan. 5,” Medley told the council. “Jeremiah defended a fellow citizen from attack by the suspect involved with a second high-speed pursuit later that same day.”

Medley said that Sullen “happened to be at the right place at the right time” when a suspect being pursued by Level Plains law officers jumped out of the vehicle he was driving and ran on foot in the vicinity of a Daleville grocery store. “Pat, without any regard to his own safety, ran over to help our police officers that were struggling to take the suspect into custody,” Medley said.

Barrett’s heroic actions were brought to Medley’s attention by Marie Metcalf from Slocomb, the police chief said. Metcalf was among those in the same grocery store parking lot on the same day when a female in the parking lot, brandishing a knife, was attempting to enter vehicles in the parking lot.

The woman with the knife approached Metcalf’s vehicle, Medley said. Metcalf, who had recently had shoulder surgery, was unable to shut her car door.

Barrett, who was sitting in his vehicle in the same parking lot, saw Metcalf’s plight. “With no regard for his own safety, he jumped out of a car, grabbed a shopping cart and pushed it towards the woman brandishing the knife in a successful effort to distract her,” Medley told the council. “It worked and Ms. Marie was able to shut her door—and be safe.”

Metcalf was at the council meeting to again thank Barrett and to describe her experience to the council. “I have been in tough situations before in my life but I never imagined anything unfolding like what unfolded that night,” she said. “All I could do was scream ‘no’ as she she was stabbing at me.

“At the moment when I had used my last strength (to close the door), my angel came,” a visibly emotional Metcalf said looking at Barrett. “My hero who saved me.

Metcalf said that she and Barrett had exchanged phone numbers and she read to the council a text message Barrett had sent her following the incident. “God has his hands over you and I am overjoyed that I was chosen to act as His servant,” Barrett had texted. “I was thankful God put me there and gave me the courage to act.”

“There are not many people like you out there,” Metcalf told Barrett. “I will always love you.”

“I believe in Ms. Marie’s eyes you are a hero,” Medley added. “And in our eyes you are a hero and we want to thank you.

“We are fortunate to have citizens like Pat and Jeremiah in our community who selflessly and courageously step in to help one another,” Medley added. “You don’t find heroes every day.”

The next meeting of the Daleville City Council is Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at Daleville City Hall. The meeting is open to the public.