HERO: Lakewood Police Officer Saves Girl's Life at Teriyaki Restaurant

Police officers may not always be arresting bad guys or driving fast to a potential crime scene, but their natural instincts are always active.

Lakewood Police Sgt. John Fraser is being heralded a hero to a local family after saving the life of a young girl choking on her food at a teriyaki restaurant in Lakewood around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday, according to West Pierce Fire & Rescue Assistant Fire Marshal Hallie McCurdy.

While Fraser and fellow officer Lt. Chris Lawler were at Koto Teriyaki, located at 5700 100th St. S.W., Fraser quickly spotted a young girl choking a couple of tables away, said McCurdy in a press release. He raced to the front of the counter and rushed into action.

"He performed abdominal thrusts on the child and after about the fifth attempt the object came out of the young girl’s airway and she was able to breathe," McCurdy said.

Lawler reacted as well by calling firefighters, but by the time they arrived, the little girl was breathing normally and was doing just fine, McCurdy stated.

Fire officials said nobody else in the restaurant knew what to do to help the girl, including the mother. "Thank goodness these officers were in the restaurant and knew exactly what to do to help this little girl," McCurdy said.

Captain Pat Lillie of West Pierce said, “This call would have had a completely different result had Fraser not been in that restaurant. He saved that little girl’s life.”

Fraser will be awarded at an upcoming West Pierce Fire & Rescue Board meeting for his heroic actions.

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