(KNSI) – The Minnesota State Patrol is honoring some of their bravest officers and some quick-thinking civilians who were in the right place at the right time with a virtual awards banquet Wednesday afternoon.
Among them is Trooper Anthony Butler, who will receive the Meritorious Service Award.
Butler and officers from area law enforcement agencies responded to 911 calls about a suspicious vehicle that had committed several hit and runs on September 13th of 2018.
Police found the truck in a garage in Sauk Centre after it had crashed through the door. The driver, Ramey James Olson, ran into a nearby home and hid. While Butler and other officers searched for the suspect inside, he suddenly appeared with a fully drawn crossbow. He fired at officers, hitting Stearns County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Orvis, who suffered a broken arm in the ordeal.
Ignoring commands to drop the bow, Butler and another officer from the Melrose Police Department fired on Olson, hitting him and stopping the threat.
Olson suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No other officers were hurt.
Trooper Matt Carlson will be honored with a life-saving award following his actions at the scene of a crash. He was responding to a request for help from a driver who ran out of gas. Another driver hit that vehicle and another. As Carlson got to the scene, he noticed one of the victims had a severed leg. Carlson placed a tourniquet on the wound, saving that victim’s life.
Carlson is a graduate of St. Cloud State University and served on the St. Cloud Police Department’s Animal Control before being hired by the State Patrol.
The awards ceremony is set for 1 p.m., and you can watch it by clicking here.
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