OKLAHOMA CITY – On Friday, Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to serve a warrant for Levi Rashel, 25, on allegations of rape and indecent acts with a juvenile. When deputies came, Rashel declined to comply. He crawled out of a second-floor window and onto a tree, where he slashed both his wrists.
That’s when the situation became hazardous, and blood began to flow profusely.
“Our guys are going to snap into action because we are there to bring you in and once the opportunity presented us, now we’re there to save a life because we want to make sure you get that day in court,” said Sheriff Tommie Johnson III, of Oklahoma County.
Rashel made it back down to the roof, but he became unresponsive.
Despite the high incline and slick surface, deputies responded promptly.
“When you talk about these guys in the pitch that they were working on, the items that they were putting down to render aid are slipping down,” according to Sheriff Johnson.
They applied tourniquets to the tops of his arms to stem the bleeding. Rashel was brought down by the Oklahoma City Fire Department and transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Sheriff Johnson believes this is a good reminder of how quickly things in law enforcement can change.
“We have to kind of roll and react to what’s presented and that’s why you know the training is so important,” Johnson explained to the crowd.
Rashel is still alive and healing at the hospital.
Reference: Man accused of child sex crimes slits wrists during arrest attempt, saved by deputies
