Sheriff’s Office, County Board honor heroes with 911 Lifesaver Awards
February 25, 2025
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office today recognized the lifesaving responses of 24 citizens, first responders, and 911 emergency communications specialists, presenting them with 911 Lifesaver Awards for their involvement in nine separate incidents. Among those honored:
Daniella Lee and Emergency Communications Specialist Chris Bender – Last September, Daniella was able to save her grandfather’s life by performing CPR, which she’d learned through a training program offered by the Hibbing Fire Department. Bender was able to provide guidance and encouragement until paramedics arrived
Rogelio “Ro” Noyes – In January of this year, the 17-year-old and his father heard a loud noise and discovered their elderly neighbor’s house on fire. Ro called 911 and then ran to help open a stuck door that had been trapping the neighbor inside. He then helped the man to a nearby garage to wait until firefighters arrived.
Nicholas Nelson, Tony Maynard and Grace Zeller – last May, as has widely been reported, two men drowned and another two rescued in the Curtain Falls area of the BWCA. Nicholas and Tony had been camping in the area when the situation began. Nicholas was the first to make contact with the people, and Tony called 911. The pair assisted the injured men until help could arrive and also helped create a makeshift landing zone used to evacuate them. Meanwhile Grace is the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources pilot who flew in to rescue the injured men.
St. Louis County Sheriff’s Investigator Matt Miranda and Deputies Blair Twaddle, Riley MacLean, Kyle Voltzke and Dar Giancola – last September, during an intense physical training session for new deputies, Deputy Scott Garrick collapsed. His colleagues jumped into action using an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), CPR, and supplemental oxygen, and saved the life of one of their own.
Emergency Communications Specialist Don Walters, Deputy Josh Etter and Paramedic Cody Hanson – when a woman in the Embarrass area went into cardiac arrest in December 2023, Don was able to provide medical direction and CPR instructions for 18 minutes to the caller until Deputy Etter and later Paramedic Hanson arrived, ultimately saving the woman’s life.
Louis Meglen, Lucas Martin Crawford-Nichols, Lindsey Evraets, and Danielle Mazzio – During a water emergency off Park Point last July, Louis noticed a man struggling in the water. Louis was able to carry the man to shore where he’d already signaled the others who were able to provide CPR until paramedics arrived.
Christian Romundstad – The day after the incident above, Christian noticed an individual struggling in the water after falling off a jet ski on Caribou Lake. Christian was able to bring the man to shore, where medical personnel were able to attend to him, saving the man’s life.
Alan Williams and Gregory Ryder – Last June, while traveling on Highway 73, Alan spotted a man on the side of the road covered in blood. It was ultimately determined to be due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Due to poor cell phone coverage, Alan was unable to call for help, so he flagged down another passerby, Gregory, who was able to call 911. Because of their quick actions, the man was able to receive medical care in a timely manner.
Amber, Lisa, and Les Reinking – when a neighbor’s home exploded in November 2023, these three rushed to help, pulling two victims from the debris and caring for them until medical help arrived. Amber is a past participant in the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Explorers program and credits that training for helping her set aside fear and focus on helping – leading to the best possible outcome of no lives lost.
Undersheriff Jason Akerson presented the awards on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office. He noted, “It’s nothing short of amazing – people stepping forward when the need was there. And they saved lives.”
Since 1993, St. Louis County has recognized the efforts of those individuals who have worked
together, often risking their own safety, to save others. The 911 Life Saver Award honors those worthy of such recognition, but also serves to educate the public on how the County’s 911 system works.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and County Board honored 24 individuals with 911 Lifesaver Awards for their involvement in nine separate incidents.
911 Emergency Communications Specialist Chris Bender and Daniella Lee listen as Undersheriff Jason Akerson describes how Daniella provided CPR to save her grandfather’s life.
DNR pilot Grace Zeller receives a 911 Lifesaver Award from Jason Matthias for making two flights into the BWCA two rescue two men who’d been injured in last year’s Curtain Falls incident that left two other men dead.
St. Louis County 911 Communications Center Supervisor Jason Matthias presents 911 Lifesaver Awards to (L-R): Deputies Dar Giancola, Blair Twaddle and Riley MacLean, Investigator Matt Miranda and Deputy Kyle Voltzke.
Deputy Scott Garrick smiles as his colleagues return to their seats after being honored for saving his life.
Paramedic Cody Hanson and 911 Emergency Communications Specialist Don Walters listen as Undersheriff Jason Akerson describe how they saved a man’s life with CPR.
Undersheriff Jason Akerson leads a round of applause for (L-R): Lindsey Evraets, Louis Meglen, and Lucas Martin Crawford-Nichols who saved a man’s life during a water emergency off Park Point.
Alan Williams is presented a 911 Lifesaver Award for stopping to help a man he saw laying on the side of Highway 73.
Amber and Lisa Reinking are presented 911 Lifesaver Awards for their quick actions to save two neighbors whose house had exploded.