ANOKA COUNTY, MN — Two Anoka County Transportation Division employees have been awarded the Anoka County Sheriff's Office Medal of Valor after physically intervening to stop a man from shooting himself at Coon Lake Beach Park last month.
Benjamin Hyland and Matthew Brisson were on routine duty May 19 when they spotted a man struggling to exit his vehicle and approached to help. The man then produced a handgun, placed it in his mouth, and indicated he intended to kill himself.
Without hesitation, both men physically restrained the man to prevent him from firing. The gun discharged during the struggle, sending a round into nearby woods. Brisson was able to disarm the man while both continued to hold him until a deputy arrived.
When Deputy Mason Waldera arrived, the man fought back and attempted to take the deputy's firearm before he was subdued. The individual was placed on a medical hold and faces pending criminal charges.
"What Benjamin Hyland and Matthew Brisson did that day goes far beyond what anyone would expect," Sheriff Brad Wise said in a statement. "These two men ran toward danger, risking their own lives to save someone else's."
Anoka County Transportation & County Engineer Joe MacPherson also praised the two employees, saying their actions "speak powerfully to their character and genuine commitment to helping others."
The Medal of Valor is one of the highest honors the Anoka County Sheriff's Office awards for acts of heroism.
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