The Daily Press, to be exact.
This isn’t really an ideological post. It’s just really a pleasure for me to commend and thank two members of our local newspaper industry who distinguished themselves this past Monday by capturing a known rapist and suspected serial killer in the High Desert City of Victorville.
John W. Thomson, a fugitive from the state of Washington, was apprehended by two Victor Valley Daily Press employees after the accused killer failed to carjack one woman and then made a second carjacking attempt in a parking lot next to the newspaper’s office. That crime was foiled by pressmen Joe Iskandar, 27 (above, left), and Rey Bantug, 24 (above, right), who overheard the commotion while on a break. Without hesitation they intervened, overpowering and detaining Thomson until Sheriff’s deputies arrived. The two men used plastic zip ties from the pressroom to handcuff Thomson. Read about it here and here.
Thomson is suspected of committing two murders in Spokane, Wash., and is being charged in San Bernardino County for allegedly murdering Charles Hedlund, 55, of Lucerne Valley, whose body was found near the I-15 freeway in the Cajon Pass last Saturday.
On Tuesday, San Bernardino County Sheriff Gary Penrod (pictured above, left) came by the newspaper to thank the two Victorville residents for their selfless and commendable deed in capturing Thomson (photo courtesy of the Daily Press). The City of Victorville is following suit, and Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus will present resolutions to the two men during an informal ceremony Wednesday at the newspaper’s offices. "These two men deserve recognition for their heroic efforts," said Postmus. "They risked their lives to save another. There is no act more noble than that."
Deeds such as this are difficult to describe and to put into perspective with mere words. Heroic actions speak for themselves. Orange County business leader and High Desert booster Buck Johns summed up the situation in his characteristic style with a letter to the paper’s editor: "God Bless Victorville and God Bless the guys at the Daily Press," the Arkansas native wrote. "In New York, bystanders turn their backs on crime; in Victorville, the culprits get hog-tied."
August 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I agree with Brad that these guys should be commended.
Say, how about giving them a couple of the free tickets the County gets to the NASCAR race?
I know FlashReport contributor Mike Spence wants them, but I think he should be required to put his life on the line and subdue some felon like these guys did before receiving such a treasured reward.
August 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I have never quite understood the lure of watching cars go around in a circle for several hours.
If I am going to watch NASCAR, it will be on a road course. Do they even race road courses anymore?
I remember watching Petty and Yarborough (sp?) at the old Riverside Speedway (god bless turn 6 out of the “S’s”)…before it became a vacant, gang infested mall. Of course, I haven’t been to MoVal’s mall in a while…so, I may be dating myself.
Formula 1 is pretty exciting, if you like seeing the winner lead from the first lap on to the finish…
Indy in Laguna and NASCAR in Watkins Glen…
August 10th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Check that…Indy in Long Beach.
August 11th, 2006 at 12:00 am
for me, four lefts turns is more fun when the track is clay or dirt, particularly world of outlaws.