A 26-year-old has been named the Arkansas State Police's Trooper of the Year for saving an individual who doused himself with gasoline and then started a fire.
Levi Fleming of Brinkley, who has worked for the agency for for years, responded to a disturbance call in Devalls Bluff on Jan. 21, 2017. An intoxicated person had forced his way into a home, grabbed a shotgun and poured gas on part of the residence's garage and himself, according to a news release.
State police said Fleming entered the garage with a fire extinguisher and was able to get the individual — who sustained serious burns to 40 percent of his body — out.
Fleming was among 30 honored Wednesday at the agency's annual awards ceremony, which was also attended by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Special agents 44-year-old Larry J. Carter of Atkins and 43-year-old Becky Vacco of Flippin received distinguished meritorious service awards. After a five-hour standoff. Sgt. Carter was able to negotiate the surrender of 42-year-old James Arthur Bowden, who is suspected of killing 3 people, including a Yell County sheriff's deputy. Cpl. Vacco was honored for her work investigating the killing of a 23-month-old and the beatings of two other infants.