VALDOSTA — Thursday morning, around 9:00, an adult male was observed walking in the parking lot of the South Georgia Medical Center Outpatient Center making threats to harm himself.

The hospital security staff was immediately notified as were the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Valdosta Police Department. Both agencies arrived quickly and given the concern for the person’s safety, efforts to locate the male began.

The male was soon located under the Patterson Street parking deck, on the campus of S.G.M.C., and had a knife which he was using to actively cut himself. Despite pleas to stopping harming himself, the male refused and continued.

Deputy Anthony Johnson deployed his Taser which immediately incapacitated the male allowing Deputy Johnson, V.P.D. Officers Stephen Turnmeyer and Phillip Hay and security officers from S.G.M.C. to subdue the male. The male was immediately taken inside the hospital for treatment of his injuries which included serious self-inflicted cuts to his arms and neck.

Sheriff Prine stated he is “proud of all of the employees of his office, but the decisive actions of Deputy Anthony Johnson to deploy his Taser and incapacitate the male no doubt prevented this person from possibly ending his own life or injuring someone else.” “Law enforcement is asked everyday to make split second decisions that impact lives. Deputy Johnson and the officers acted swiftly displaying quick thinking and great team work.”