On Monday of this week, the California Peace Officers’ Association (CPOA) presented Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy Lieutenant Brandon Pursell, Deputy Sergeant Arley Terrence and Correctional Lieutenant Michael Porter with an Award of Valor. The presentation occurred during the COPSWEST Training & Expo in Palm Springs. All three were recognized for their heroic efforts made in response to a 2016 shooting inside the lobby of the Fresno County Jail.
On September 3, 2016, a man entered the lobby of the Fresno County Jail, cut in front of the line and told the on-duty correctional officer that he wanted to go to jail. The man was told to get back in line. For several minutes, he walked around the jail lobby. He was told several times to leave the lobby, but refused. Due to his behavior, other correctional officers were called to assist in removing the man from the lobby. The man later removed a handgun from his waistband and fired several shots, some of which wound up seriously injuring Correctional Officers Juanita Davila and Toamalama Scanlan.
Correctional Lieutenant Michael Porter heard the call and responded to the lobby area with his agency issued handgun. As Lieutenant Porter exited the lobby elevator he immediately exchanged gunfire with the suspect. The suspect retreated from Lieutenant Porter’s gunfire by jumping through a broken window into the Records Lobby area where he stayed, apparently in an attempt to keep from being shot by Lieutenant Porter.
Numerous Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies, including Lieutenant Brandon Pursell and Sergeant Arley Terrence, responded to the main jail once the call of an active shooter was broadcast. They quickly formed a rescue plan for the critically wounded correctional officers. Lieutenant Pursell and Sergeant Terrence entered the jail lobby along with officers from the Fresno Police Department. Once inside, Sgt. Terrence and other officers held the suspect at gunpoint while Lieutenant Pursell and two Fresno Police officers pulled Correctional Officers Scanlan and Davila out of the lobby. Lieutenant Pursell, Sergeant Terrence, and Fresno Police then worked together to take the suspect into custody.
The following considerations are what lead to the three members of the Sheriff’s Office being selected to receive the prestigious Award of Valor.
Without hesitation, Lt. Pursell and Sgt. Terrence made the decision to enter the lobby and rescue Officers Scanlan and Davila. Even though they knew they were going into an active shooter scene in which two others had already been shot. Lt. Pursell and Sgt. Terrence opted not to wait for more resources and instead chose to stop the threat of violence to other people (employees and civilians) who were still inside the jail lobby. They exhibited extreme bravery above and beyond the call of duty. Their quick and decisive actions allowed for the injured correctional officers to be quickly extracted and transported to the hospital.
When Lt. Porter first engaged the suspect, he was approximately 20 feet away. Lt. Porter did not have cover, only concealment when he fired at the suspect. Gun fire was exchanged between the suspect and Lt. Porter for more than three minutes. Lt. Porter's actions resulted in the suspect retreating into a hallway. The suspect remained in the hallway, unable and unwilling to reengage Lt. Porter with gunfire. Lt. Porter remained in the lobby ready to reengage the suspect if he attempted to come back into the lobby. Lt. Porter's actions prevented the suspect from firing on civilians and officers still in the lobby. He also helped provide cover to Lt. Pursell, Sgt. Terrence and Fresno Police officers as they made entry into the lobby to safely recover the two downed officers.
From left to right shows Lt. Michael Porter, Sheriff Margaret Mims, Sgt. Arley Terrence and Lt. Brandon Pursell
