McMinn County deputies credited with saving lives in multiple September incidents

MCMINN COUNTY, Tenn. — Deputies with the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office responded to several life-threatening emergencies in September, including a 12-year-old boy suffering cardiac arrest, a woman experiencing a suspected drug overdose and a child found alone in a vehicle.

In a statement highlighting the incidents, the sheriff praised deputies and other first responders for their quick actions, describing a series of events that demonstrated how their training and preparedness helped save lives.

In one incident earlier in September, a 12-year-old boy suffered cardiac arrest because of an underlying medical condition his family was unaware of, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies Amber Cook, Kelby Liner and Tyler Arrent responded and began lifesaving measures. They were assisted by American Medical Response ambulance personnel and local firefighters.

The boy was transported to a hospital in Nashville, where he continued to recover. According to the sheriff, doctors told the responding officers that the underlying medical condition was typically fatal, but their rapid response and medical intervention made a difference.

As the boy’s condition improved, the deputies traveled to Nashville to visit him and his family. He eventually returned home, where personnel from the sheriff’s office gathered to welcome him back.

In a separate incident later in September, deputies serving a search warrant at a known drug house in Englewood arrested a male suspect before discovering an unresponsive woman in an upstairs attic.

The woman had reportedly taken multiple drugs and was experiencing an overdose, according to the sheriff’s account.

With temperatures reaching approximately 120 degrees inside the cramped attic space, deputies Tyler Arrent, Kelby Liner, Amber Cook, Zac Hawkins, Nate Stiles and Jeremy Moore worked to remove the woman from the area and get her outside.

Lt. Bill Cherry and Deputy Brian Powers joined the effort to administer lifesaving measures. They were assisted by AMR Director Lance McConkey and members of the Englewood Fire Department while awaiting an ambulance.

The sheriff said he personally witnessed the response.

Another incident involved Niota School Resource Officer Ashley Andrus, who was off duty and shopping at Walmart when she discovered a young child who had been left inside a vehicle for more than 30 minutes.

Andrus contacted Athens police and assisted with the child’s recovery, according to the sheriff.

The sheriff also highlighted other recent instances in which corrections officers and jail medical personnel have responded to inmates experiencing medical emergencies, as well as deputies who have assisted people injured in crashes or suffering medical problems in the community.

He credited personnel throughout the agency with applying their training, skills and initiative during emergencies.

The sheriff encouraged residents to thank McMinn County sheriff’s deputies when they encounter them in the community, at schools or at local businesses, recognizing their work in protecting residents and responding to emergencies.