Deputies of the Month: Capt Tamayo, commander of the Bravo District in Lehigh, left, nominated two deputies to be honored at the Chamber luncheon. They are Sgt. Patrick McDonald, center, and at right, Deputy Ryan Justham. They were credited for saving the lives of others by stopping a man from firing a machine gun at them. Photo by Mel Toadvine

A large group of Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce members sat in awe as they listened to Capt. Ed Tamayo, commander of the Bravo Substation in Lehigh explain what happened to two local deputies to earn them the Chamber’s Deputies of the Month Award.

Honored at the meeting were Sgt. Patrick McDonald and Deputy Ryan Justham.

Tamayo said that on April 24 of this year, deputies were called to a home in Lehigh with a report of a suicide. He said that deputies were dealing with one deceased person on the scene and then were told it was a suicide but that there was a second person inside who had run into the woods who was also suicidal.

But before running into the woods, McDonald called additional units and knew the house had to be cleared first.

“With a tactical approach, Sgt. McDonald and Deputy Ryan Justham made a proper search of the house. Justham found a highly concealed suspect in a bedroom under the bed. When he looked down, he saw clothes moving,” the captain said.

Member of the Month: Joe Whalen, president and CEO of the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce, presents a certificate honoring Vickie Hay as the Member of the Month at last week’s Chamber luncheon. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Justham and another officer ordered the man out while McDonald and two additional deputies entered the house.

The suspect, armed with a machine gun, according to Tamayo, refused to surrender and began shooting at Justham and his backup.

“An officer with Justham had to take cover in a bathroom that shared the wall with the room the suspect firing on the officers, Tamayo said.

Then Justham took a tactical position in the kitchen and returned fire. Both McDonald and Justham maneuvered tactically, Tamayo said, by switching positions of cover while the other returned gunfire suppressing the suspect’s gunfire.

The two deputies were able to stop the threat and the suspect firing the machine gun was fatally wounded and his weapon was secured by McDonald.

Sgt. Patrick McDonald

“Due to Deputy Justham and Sgt. McDonald’s courage under threat of deadly force, they prevented the suspect from leaving his place of cover and advancing on the deputy that was trapped in the bathroom.

“These members used proper deadly force and tactics to end this threat,” Tamayo said.

Outside while the shooting was taking place, there were several firefighters and medical personnel treating a victim determined a murdered victim and not a suicide as had been reported.

“This surrealistic scene evolved from a suicide call to a deadly threat against officers within a short period. Sgt. McDonald and Deputy Justham acted decisively by not running into the woods seeking an alleged suicide victim. Instead they cleared the house first and their actions preserved the lives of citizens, fire department personnel and deputies on the scene,” Tamayo said.

Both men have been nominated for the Sheriff’s Award for the second quarter of the year, too.

Deputy Ryan Justham

Joe Whalen, the CEO and president of the Lehigh Chamber also presented awards to Tabatha Hipp as Employee of the Month and Vickie Hay as Member of the Month. Both are employed by Century 21 Sunbelt Realty and have helped to provide the program for Chamber scholarships.

The luncheon was held at the Majestic Golf Club on Homestead Rd. on July 27. The August meeting is scheduled for Aug. 31 at 11 a.m. Members of the public are also invited along with Chamber members to attend the luncheon. Calls should be made to the Chamber at 369-3322 to make reservations.

Employee of the Month: Joe Whalen, president and CEO of the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce, presents a certificate honoring Tabatha Hipp as the Chamber’s Employee of the Month at last week’s monthly luncheon. Photo by Mel Toadvine