Dec 2023. Blues Vol 39 No. 12

cy medical personnel administered
first aid to the suspect, but
he was pronounced dead at the
scene.
The wounded officer, identified
as Sergeant Mauricio Valle, 38,
was transported to Memorial
Hermann - Texas Medical Center
in stable condition.
“(He’s) one of our top notch
guys, thank God he’s going to be
OK. (He) sustained multiple shots
to his arms and legs, and his
ballistic vest took on one shot.
But, he’s in with the best doctors
in the world, and they’re taking
care of him,” HPD Chief Troy
Finner said.
The woman, who was with the
suspect, was detained as well.
Authorities said an internal
investigation will be conducted
because an officer was involved
in the shooting.
Finner said he was proud of
how his officers responded once
their team member had been
shot, since they immediately
made tourniquets for the officer.
Finner said he spoke to the officer’s
wife and is praying for his
recovery.
Finner said Sgt. Valle is alert
and talking and was scheduled
to have surgery today. Finner
said doctors say Valle is expected
to make a full recovery, despite
suffering multiple wounds.
“We are very grateful for this
positive news and ask everyone
to continue to pray for his recovery,”
Finner said.
QUICK THINKING FORKLIFT
OPERATOR HOLDS THEFT
SUSPECT IN AIR UNTIL POLICE
ARRIVE
by Law Officer
AKRON, Ohio – A quick thinking
forklift operator held a theft
suspect about “20 feet off the
ground” while the man was inside
a vehicle he reportedly tried
to steal from a wrecking yard
as police responded to make the
arrest, according to reports.
When employees at Arlington
Auto Wrecking in Akron, Ohio
realized a man was inside one of
their vehicles and stealing from
the business, they raised the automobile
in the air with a forklift
and left it suspended off the
ground until responding officers
arrived. Their method of detention
even had the 911 operator
cracking up, 19 News Cleveland
reported.
“So, he’s still in the car about
20 feet in the air in the loader,”
the employee told a 911 dispatcher.
“Wonderful, that is the greatest
thing I’ve ever heard,” the dispatcher
said with a laugh. “We,
we will get somebody out to
you.”
Bodycam footage shows the
SUV still suspended in the air before
it was lowered after officers
arrived to make the arrest.
“What’s your name, man?” one
of the officers could be heard
asking the suspect.
“None of your business, bro,”
the man getting handcuffed replied.
When told he was under arrest,
the suspect asked for what
and said he was running from
someone, Fox News Digital reported.
Employees told police they
were fed up with thieves breaking
into their shop and pilfering
from them. So, when they caught
a man who had broken into one
of their cars for what they claim
was the third time, they decided
to take the unusual action and
detain the suspect until officers
arrived.
The Akron Police Department
released bodycam footage of the
Oct. 17 encounter involving the
suspect who was identified as
26-year-old Alexander Funk.
WATCH BODYCAM FOOTAGE
“He broke into a car at the
junkyard and before he could get
out, they got like the forklift and
they had him like I’m not kidding
like 20 feet off the ground,
so when we got there, he went
60 The Blues 40th Anniversary Issue