September 10, 2002

LANSING - The Michigan State Police Board of Awards has announced that F/Lt. Anthony B. Gomez-Mesquita of the Mt. Pleasant Post and D/Lt. Harry Norman of the Criminal Investigation Division have been selected to receive the Michigan State Police Bravery Award at a Recognition Ceremony on September 12 in Lansing.

On March 5, 2002, F/Lieutenant Gomez-Mesquita of the Mt. Pleasant Post and D/Lieutenant Norman of the Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene of a barricaded suspect on Wilderness Drive in Isabella County. Earlier in the day, a subject had murdered three people at the Isabella County Courthouse in Mt. Pleasant and then fled the scene, barricading himself in his home. Responding troopers set up a perimeter around the suspect’s home.

As the situation unfolded, a truck driver delivering propane to the house and unaware of the situation, entered the area and parked in front of the suspect’s house. Thinking the delivery driver was an undercover police officer, the suspect threatened to kill the driver and left the house carrying a shotgun in search of him.

F/Lieutenant Gomez-Mesquita and D/Lieutenant Norman, hearing of the threat and seeing the suspect leaving the house, recognized the imminent threat to the delivery truck driver. They immediately approached the house in their vehicle as the delivery truck driver arrived at the propane truck and began to turn on the gas. F/Lieutenant Gomez exited the vehicle and grabbed the truck driver, quickly pulling him into their vehicle. D/Lieutenant Norman drove them away from the scene and out of danger. The suspect was taken into custody by the Michigan State Police Emergency Services Team at his residence. He is currently awaiting trial for three counts of murder.

After carefully considering all the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident, it was the decision of the Board of Awards that the actions of both F/Lieutenant Gomez-Mesquita and D/Lieutenant Norman be recognized by an Award for Bravery. The actions of these two officers, putting themselves in harm’s way in confronting a hostile situation, proved to be instrumental in the capture of a violent individual. Their actions were indeed brave and extraordinary service.

• F/Lt. Anthony Gomez-Mesquita enlisted in the department on January 17, 1982, after serving two years as a motor carrier officer. He has served at the Brighton, Detroit, Gaylord, Mt. Pleasant, and Flint posts, the Training Division, the Criminal Investigation Division, and is presently commanding officer of the Mt. Pleasant Post.
  
• D/Lt. Harry Norman enlisted in the department on June 26, 1977. He has served at the Northville, Reed City, Mt. Pleasant, and Lakeview posts and is presently assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division’s Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team in Saginaw County.

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