Soldiers help catch criminal

By Sgt. Jonathan C. ThibaultOctober 31, 2014

Soldiers help catch criminal
Spc. Franklin Naval, left, and Sgt. Dustin Broyard, both with 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, pose for a photo with the Community Service Awards they received from the city of Fountain Oct. 19 for helping the Fountain Police Depar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FOUNTAIN, Colo. -- Squad car lights flashed in the summer heat as a known felon was led to waiting police cars after he was apprehended with the help of two Soldiers from 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, at a Fountain grocery store.

Spc. Franklin Naval and Sgt. Dustin Broyard were officially recognized and presented awards at the Cheyenne Mountain Lodge at the Broadmoor Hotel Oct. 19 for their actions July 26.

"We decided to help the (grocery store) workers because they were in distress and yelled for some assistance," said Naval, organizational defense travel administrator, Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th CAB. "We ran to (their) aid and helped detain the individual until the police officers arrived. I think it was just instinct for us and we are pretty sure others would have done the same."

Naval and Broyard, petroleum supply specialist, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th CAB, received community service awards from the Fountain Police Department during the event.

"I love the city of Fountain as well as Colorado," said Naval. "I'm from a small island and all we do is look out for one another. It was shocking because neither Dustin nor I expected such an award. We are really grateful and appreciate the award."

Naval and Broyard said they were happy to help the Fort Carson neighboring community and strive to keep it safer.

"It really felt good knowing that the Fountain Police Department encourages their citizens to look out for danger and not hesitate to call or help whenever danger presents itself. The … peace officers … can't always be there to save the day," said Naval.

Broyard said the duo has a strong sense of personal security and feel an urge to keep their community safe.

"We personally go throughout the day reminding ourselves to always be safe and look out for what we think might affect our Families in a negative way," said Broyard. "We wouldn't want anything bad to happen to other people or families in our community."

Broyard and Naval said they received thanks from the grocery store employees and their loved ones.

"The store manager and some employees expressed their gratitude by buying us the groceries that we were going to purchase," said Broyard. "We didn't expect that to happen for something we would have done any other day."

Naval added that their wives were concerned for their safety but glad they did something to help those in need.

"Our wives expressed their appreciation and thanked us for stepping in," said Naval. "But on the other hand, they were also concerned about our safety and (asked), 'What if something bad happened to you?' Our wives were right on both accounts."

Todd Evans, chief of police, Fountain Police Department, said the Soldiers' actions that day led to

the suspect being apprehended.

"The Fountain Police Department and the citizens of this community are grateful for their willingness

to help another in need," said Evans.

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