(U.S. Marshal Service, TX)
On October 9, 2014, members of the Midland County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshal Service Lone Star Fugitive Task Force attempted to execute a felony arrest warrant on a fugitive in Midland County, Texas for continuous sexual abuse of a young child. Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Steven Clark led a task force of city, county, and state law enforcement officers to the fugitive’s residence. Upon arrival, the task force members knocked, announced law enforcement presence, and made verbal contact with the fugitive.
When Sergeant Mike Naylor, a Task Force Officer and member of the Midland County Sheriff’s Office, began to negotiate with the fugitive through an open window, the fugitive shot him in the head with a .45 caliber pistol. Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Clark then put himself into the fugitive’s direct line of fire by crawling to Sergeant Naylor’s side in order to administer aid. With complete disregard for his own safety, Deputy U.S. Marshal Clark pulled the seriously injured officer away from the direct line of fire, and once in a safe place, he initiated first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene. Sergeant Naylor was evacuated to a medical trauma center where he died of a gunshot wound to the head. After a subsequent period of negotiations, the fugitive/assailant surrendered and was taken into custody.
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