Police Recognize Guardsman for Helping With Arrest

Eden Prairie on Tuesday awarded a Minnesota National Guard sergeant a Police Department Commendation Award for helping an officer with a difficult traffic stop, according to an agency blog post.

Richard Lane III was running errands Jan. 30 when he came across an officer fighting with a driver on Mitchell Road.  After asking the officer if he needed help, Lane held the driver down while the officer handcuffed him.

The full text of the award reads:

On January 30, 2013, an Eden Prairie officer pulled a driver over at Highway 5 and Mitchell Road for a revoked license. The officer placed the driver in the back of his squad car while waiting for a tow truck as it was cold outside. Once inside the squad car, the driver put his hands in his pockets and refused commands to make them visible. The officer was concerned that the driver might have a weapon in his pocket and reached for the man’s hands. A tussle between the driver and the officer then ensued, spilling outside of the squad car.

During the scuffle, the driver bit the officer’s wrist. The two men were then on the ground fighting in the middle of the Mitchell Road exit ramp as vehicles drove by them. The officer was able to call for help on his lapel microphone as they struggled.

At this point a passerby, Richard Lane III, stopped his vehicle in front of the officer’s, approached the officer and asked him if he needed any assistance. The officer answered that he did and had Mr. Lane hold the driver down while the officer handcuffed the driver. Other officers then began arriving to assist.

Mr. Lane’s role in this dangerous arrest was invaluable. While other drivers drove past, Mr. Lane had the courage and presence to stop and offer assistance. Mr. Lane was able to lend his strength in order to help subdue the driver, thereby ensuring the safety of the officer.

For his willingness to put himself in danger and for his quick actions in coming to the assistance of an officer in need, I hereby award this Commendation to Richard Lane III on behalf of a grateful Eden Prairie Police Department.

The police chief awards the Commendation Award to Police Department personnel or citizens “for excellent or unusual accomplishments or actions as acknowledged by other officers, their supervisors, or concerned citizens.”

Click here to read the full post and watch Tuesday’s presentation of the award.