Impact
WARD / COUNCILMEMBER: Citywide
$ IMPACT:
Title
Recognition of Good Samaritan Gregory P. Chernak for his bravery assisting SPD Officer Jared Toso with a combative suspect. The item will be tabled indefinately at the request of staff.
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ISSUE AND BACKGROUND:
On 2/5/2020, 6:50am, Officer Jared Toso responded to a call regarding a suspicious individual. Upon multiple requests to gain personal information in an effort to decipher who the suspect was and where he lived by Officer Toso, the suspect became belligerent and aggressive. Officer Toso's repeated attempts to de-escalate through verbal commands failed, and the suspect lunged at Toso, eventually taking himself and Officer Toso to the ground. In the midst of the altercation, the suspect gained physical control of Officer Toso. Gregory Chernak, a citizen in close proximity and the person who made the call regarding the individual, called for the suspect to release Toso. When the suspect continued to fight Officer Toso, Mr. Chernak used physical force to remove the suspect. Officer Toso then gained control of the suspect, along with a backup officer, and the suspect was detained. Officer Toso suffered contusions and cuts from which three stitches were needed to repair a cut on his elbow.
If not for Mr. Chernak's bravery to engage when an officer was down and being overtaken by another, Officer Toso may have been severely injured, or worse. Moreover, Officer Toso did not quit in the fight. He was able to regain his composure and successfully detained an individual who meant to do great harm.
RECOMMENDATION / REQUESTED ACTION: