Sheriff Gene Kelly held a special ceremony last Wednesday, December 30 to recognize the efforts of a Clark County woman who saved a man’s life in October during a traffic accident on Interstate 70. Kelly also swore in the department’s newest deputy, and commended a group of his current deputies who prevented an inmate from taking his own life on Christmas Day.

Sergeant Chad Stalder and Deputies Joseph Liming, Tyler Hayes, Fitzroy Lawrence, and Joshua Pacine were awarded the 2015 Exceptional Service Award for their cooperative efforts in saving the inmate’s life. The Sheriff said that the inmate was taken into custody on December 22 for his involvement in a daytime burglary on Bird Road. Early on Christmas morning, just before shift-change, Deputy Liming was making his last rounds through the jail when he noticed the 29 year-old man hanging from a bed sheet that he had affixed to the metal bars on the window. Liming then radioed for help as he entered the man’s cell by himself and lifted the man up so that his airway was no longer constricted.

“It only takes ninety seconds to die that way,” said Kelly, noting all the circumstances that aligned that morning in order for the inmate to be rescued by deputies.

Sergeant Stalder, who was just walking out to end his shift, heard Liming’s request for help, and ran as fast as he could to the inmate’s cell, where he met Deputy Hayes, and they both entered to assist Liming. Stalder and Liming held the inmate up while Hayes cut the sheet. The inmate, who was unresponsive at the time, was laid on the floor, where Liming attempted to revive him through several sternum rubs, which were ineffective. Deputies Lawrence and Pacine also responded to the cell, where Liming then attempted CPR with no success, but Stalder was able to revive the inmate through chest compressions.

“This was teamwork at its finest,” Kelly said, revealing that their actions likely gave that inmate a second chance at life, as he was bonded out later that day.

“This young man is still facing charges, but on Christmas Day, because of their actions, he got to go home—he was bonded out,” said Kelly.

“You gave life to a man who should not have it—that’s what we’re all about,” Kelly told his deputies as he presented their awards.

The Sheriff also recognized Lisa Baldwin-Skinner of South Charleston for saving a Kettering man’s life on October 7 after he was involved in a fiery wreck on Interstate 70 westbound near Route 54. Kelly said that Greg Piper of Kettering was on his way home from work that day when he came to a dead stop on the highway because of a crash that had stopped traffic in front of him. Without time to react, Kelly said another driver who was looking at his cell phone with his cruise control set to 70, plowed into Piper’s car, instantly setting almost all of Piper’s vehicle afire. Kelly said that Baldwin-Skinner was in the midst of contemplating exiting the highway in favor of a shortcut when she witnessed the crash, and immediately got out of her own car and ran to Piper’s aid.

She said that the only part of Piper’s car that wasn’t on fire was the driver’s seat, and due to a compound fracture in his leg, Piper was unable to exit the car on his own. She unbuckled his seat belt and pulled him to safety on the side of the road and stayed with him until medics arrived.

“Thankfully I had a guardian angel that day,” said Piper, who embraced Baldwin-Skinner and expressed his gratitude for her heroic actions. “She saved my life—I’m so grateful.”

Baldwin-Skinner was awarded for her actions, with Kelly commending her, saying that she put her own life at risk to save Piper.

“I think people should be recognized for not staying in their cars and not getting on their cell phones to take pictures,” Kelly said.

Also during the ceremony, Kelly swore-in the department’s newest deputy, Cassandra Frigge.

He said that she came to Clark County to be with her boyfriend, and worked at the Speedway Corporation for five years. She paid her own way and put herself through the police academy and passed all of her exams, which is quite a feat, Kelly said of the rigorous physical and mental challenges. He said she was recommended to him by a friend of a friend, who got to know her through his daily regular visits to Speedway each day. Kelly said this man stated that she would make a valuable addition to his force because of her personable and professional conduct.

Frigge is a graduate of Troy high school, and completed the Ohio Peace Officers’ Training Academy at Clark State Community college this summer.

“She came to Clark County for love, and ended up at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office,” Kelly said in closing.