Hero Inmates Rush From Cells To Save Deputy's Life

From left to right: Terry Loveless, Walter Whitehead, and Mitchell Smalls

Hero inmates for their efforts to assist a deputy who fell ill while at the facility

Three inmates in Georgia saved the life of a prison guard who suffered a heart attack while undergoing security checks outside of their cell doors.

Mitchell Smalls, Terry Loveless, and Walter Whitehead were credited with acting swiftly to save the life of the cell block’s guard Walter Hobbs after he fell ill.

Witnessing the guard in need of immediate medical attention, inmates in the housing unit began banging on their cell doors and calling out to the guard. For a brief moment, the guard regained consciousness and managed to reach the control panel to release the inmates from their cells.

Three inmates sprinted from their cells to assist the deputy who again lost consciousness. With the use of the deputy’s phone and radio, they were able to get the deputy medical attention.

The deputy later told colleagues that he had no idea he had lost consciousness at any time and only remembered hearing pounding drums and inmates calling his name repeatedly.

The inmates were able to get extra help for the deputy and Mr. Hobbs, who is currently recovering at home from the heart attack, thanked the three men for their assistance.

Speaking about the incident, Whitehead said: “It scared me. I don’t care if it’s a police officer or whoever it was. I will do whatever I can to save a man. I don’t want anyone to die.”

The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office tweeted a photo of the men and wrote: “We thank them for their timely assistance and the lesson their actions provide. It’s not the uniform that makes a hero. It’s the person wearing it.”

The department also released a statement, where they added: “These inmates came to his aid because our deputy, like most law enforcement officers, treats people with the dignity they deserve. These inmates had no obligation whatsoever to render aid to a bleeding, vulnerable deputy, but they didn’t hesitate.”

The department added: “Many people have strong opinions about law enforcement officers and criminals, but this incident clearly illustrates the potential goodness found in both.”

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