Two Evansville Police Officers were assaulted while trying to remove a man from his burning trailer this afternoon. The man’s identity is not being released at this time because he has not been charged with a crime at the time of this release.
Officers were dispatched to 1913 Rhode Island to do a standby while a female removed some belongings. After the officers exited the trailer, the man locked the door.
When the officers were outside, the female told them the man had put lighter fluid on the couch and she was worried he might try to hurt himself. The officers then tried to talk to him again to make sure he was not going to harm himself. When the officers got to the front door, they saw smoke in the trailer. He would not come to the door so the officers were forced to kick the door in to get in. When the officers entered the trailer, they saw several fires in the front room. The man had gone to a back room and was found lying on the floor.
When the officers tried to remove him from the burning trailer, he began assaulting them. The officers were able to get him under control despite his resistance and the growing fire around them.
The officers were able to get him out of the trailer safely. The man was treated at the scene for injuries he received during the struggle. One of the officers was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
Any charges will be determined pending a mental health evaluation.
Involved Officers:
Zach Dickason
Josh Doane
Good job officers. Truly putting your lives in jeapordy to save another.
Nice work. It seems discretion and levelheadedness prevailed because the officers knew this guy was unstable. They could’ve killed him like the hatchet thrower but instead they helped him. They were in just as much or more danger than the guys having a hatchet thrown at them by a guy with little to no chance of actually hitting them. Again, good work officers.
Congratulations on a job well done. Evansville should be proud of the EPD.
I believe you have the wrong pictures up for the officers involved
The patrolman pictured on the left is Jared LaFollett, a fine officer who was recently in the news for recieving the EPD Field Training Officer of the year award. He was not, to my knowledge, involved in the rescue referenced in the article. I’m sure EPD would provide a picture of Officer Dickason if the editor would like to contact them and request it.
The photograph of Officer Doane is correct.
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