Three Officers Confront Father to Rescue Infant

The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce recently honored 64 police and fire fighters with Valor Awards for their courage in protecting Fairfax residents.

Fifteen were from the McLean District - the largest contingent of officers recognized for valor. This is the third consecutive year that the McLean District has achieved that distinction. Our thanks and congratulations to McLean District Commander Capt. Steve Thompson and his officers. 

McLean Patch is profiling each McLean District winner.

Bronze Medal of Valor Recipients

Police Officer First Class Christopher Newton

Police Officer First Class Ali Sepehri

Second Lt. Dwayne Machosky

*Machosky receives a Certificate of Valor for his selfless role in this incident.

Officers responded to a domestic violence situation that jeopardized the life of a 2-year-old boy. Sepehri was one of the first officers to arrive and soon found the wife, who had called 911, at a neighbor’s house. Her husband had assaulted her and snatched their young son. She told the officer her husband recently purchased a handgun, which was in the house. The officers quickly called for backup, and attempted but failed to speak with the husband or check on the child. Machosky arrived and a new plan was devised to use the wife’s house key to open the front door.

One officer armed with a rifle took a position at the front of the house. Newton wielded a tactical shield for protection and cautiously led Machosky, Sepehri and another officer to the front door. Using flashlights, the officers could see the man lying on his stomach at the top of the stairs with a shiny object in his hand. Repeated attempts to communicate with the man failed and concern for the child’s well-being multiplied. Newton and Sepehri snuck inside the house and hid under the staircase. The rest of the team created a ruse to bring the man out of his protected position.

Newton and Sepehri waited for the suspect to move toward the front door, sprang from their hiding place and identified themselves as police officers. The startled suspect tried to retreat, but both officers pounced on him. As he fought, they used a conductive energy device to control and handcuff him. The officers waiting outside heard the commotion and swiftly moved in and helped secure him. Racing upstairs, they found the little boy sound asleep and oblivious to the arrest downstairs. The handgun was also located in the same room.

The officers involved in this potentially deadly incident displayed professionalism, exceptionally sound judgment, and the ability to think and act as one cohesive team, and placed themselves in harm’s way to rescue a child.