Our Oklahoma members probably already knows that the recent beheading of a woman by a man at Vaughan Foods in Moore, Okla. led to the assailant being shot by the company’s chief operating officer, who is also a reserve deputy with the local sheriff’s department.
The Moore Police Department says charges filed against Alton Alexander Nolen will include first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Police said Nolen walked into the front office soon after he learned he’d lost his job at the food-processing plant and attacked one of the first people he encountered, Colleen Hufford, 54. He severed her head with a knife and then attacked 43-year-old Traci Johnson.
Nolen, 30, was then shot and stopped by the company’s COO Mark Vaughan.
The sheriff’s department confirmed that Vaughan has been a reserve officer with the department since 2010. As part of his reserve commission, Vaughan has a license to carry a personal handgun. Reserve deputies are citizens who attend rigorous law-enforcement training and volunteer their time.
Sheriff John Whetsel with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement regarding the involvement of Oklahoma County Reserve Deputy Sheriff Mark Vaughan:
“Today, my thoughts and prayers are with family and friends of the innocent victim who was murdered and the second innocent victim who was injured in violent knife attacks at Vaughan Foods in Moore, Oklahoma on September 25, 2014.
“These were heinous criminal acts that were ended by the quick response of Oklahoma County Reserve Deputy Sheriff Mark Vaughan. I am extremely proud of the actions of Deputy Vaughan and I am convinced those actions saved the lives of several other employees. Mr. Vaughan, who serves as COO of Vaughan Foods, was at work and when he was alerted that a man was attacking employees with a knife, Mark didn’t hesitate. He quickly responded.
“Mark put an end to the threat by shooting the suspect and saving the life of a second victim who was being actively attacked by the suspect. There is every reason to believe that the lives of untold others were saved who would have been targeted by the suspect if it hadn’t been for Deputy Vaughan’s actions.
“Mark Vaughan has been with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office since June 2010. During that time he has completed the 10-month Reserve Deputy Basic Academy as well as other extensive law enforcement training. Mark is currently assigned to the Patrol Division, is a member of the FAST Team (Fast Action Support Team) and is a highly trained member of the Tactical Team.
“Reserve Deputies serve a very important role in the ability of the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement services and protection to the citizens of Oklahoma County. Reserve Deputies are citizens who attended rigorous law enforcement training and volunteer their time to serve.
“Mark Vaughan is an example of just how significant these men and women are to our citizens. Yesterday lives were saved and a criminal threat ended by the quick and unselfish response of Mark Vaughan.”
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