Life Saving Awards Given to Two Meeker County Deputies

Two Meeker County Deputies have been given Life Saving Awards at the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association Winter Conference.  Deputies Sgt Ryan Schutz and Roger Muffley were honored at the conference on December 7th.

Their nomination letter said at 4:50 p.m. this past July 29th, they got a call about a person in distress on the North Fork of the Crow River in the Forest City area.  The caller reported her mother fell off an inner tube as they were floating down the river and she was now hanging onto a tree in the river and unable to get out. With the high waters, trees and debris in the river, all responding units knew it would be difficult to get to the victim’s location.

Deputy Roger Muffley responded to the call and saw a woman clinging and pinned against a fallen tree that had fallen across the river. Her face was barely out of the water and the force of the current had her against the tree.  In full deputy gear, Deputy Muffley quickly climbed out onto the fallen tree to the victim.  The victim said she couldn’t hold on much longer.   Muffley sat on the tree and grabbed the victim and tried multiple times to pull her out of the water, but the current was too strong.   He then held onto her arms to keep her from being pulled under for approximately 30 minutes until additional help arrived. 

Sgt Ryan Schutz arrived, put on a buoyancy suit and made his way out to the victim. Sgt Schutz and Deputy Muffley were then able to pull the female victim up onto the tree.  A rescue boat arrived on scene and was able to safely transport the victim and deputies. The victim was checked at the scene and cleared. Deputy Muffley was treated for exhaustion.  The water where this took place was approximately 8 to 10 feet deep.