OSHP trooper receives award for saving drowning suspect
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CAMBRIDGE -- An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper received an award Friday for saving a person's life.
Trooper David R. Handschumacher was honored Friday with the Superintendent's Citation of Merit award at the OSHP District Headquarters in Cambridge. Colonel Charles A. Jones presented the award.
Sgt. Eric Knowlton attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Sept. 4, 2023 on Ohio 266 in Morgan County for a left-of-center violation. The suspect fled the scene and a pursuit ensued through several rural roads and ended on a private driveway, according to OSHP.
OHSP said the suspect intentionally drove into the Muskingum River to try to swim across it to avoid arrest. The suspect then swam approximately 50 to 60 feet from the riverbank then started gasping for air and saying he could not make it back.
Handschumacher and Knowlton tried to throw rescue ropes to the suspect, but they were not long enough. Handschumacher removed his duty belt, vest, and uniform shirt, tied a rescue rope around himself and entered the water, the agency said.
When Handschumacher entered the river the suspect went completely under the water. Handschumacher reached the spot where the suspect went under and was able to feel the suspect with his feet and grab a hold of the suspect, according to OHSP.
Handschumacher and the suspect were pulled back to shore. He held onto the suspect for approximately 16 minutes along the riverbank while waiting for a ladder to help them up the 10-foot riverbank, the agency said.
The suspect was in and out of consciousness during this time. Handschumacher had to physically lift the suspect to the ladder and hold his full weight so emergency responders could pull the ladder up the river bank. The suspect was transported by Med-Flight to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, according to OHSP.
The agency said Handschumacher received the award for exemplifying their core value and rendering life-saving aid.
"Trooper David A. Handschumacher is not only an asset to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, but to the citizens of Ohio and the community he serves," the agency said in a media release about the award.
A video link shows the rescue occurring at http://tinyurl.com/mu4vdhpp