La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Vioture Locale 456, a tri-county veterans organization and honor society of the American Legion, recently presented Charles County Sheriff's Officer Joseph Johnson with a devotion to duty award for his actions regarding the apprehension of an armed robber.
On Dec. 23, 2004, the Sheriff's Office dispatched a lookout for an individual suspected of previously committing an armed robbery. Officers found the suspect walking in Bannister but the suspect immediately fled when officers approached him. The suspect tried to elude the officers by running into a wooded area thick with briars, but Officer Johnson did not hesitate in his foot pursuit of the suspect and continued after him into the woods, where he overtook and apprehended the suspect. Officer Johnson then located a loaded handgun the suspect had discarded during the chase.
Officer Johnson handled the subsequent arrest paperwork for the handgun violation and the arrest in the armed robbery.
Ed Miller, Chief de Gare (Commander) of Voiture Locale 456, and Don Fellows, special awards chairman, presented Officer Johnson with the award in July.
"I would like to thank Mr. Miler and Mr. Fellows for recognizing Officer Johnson for his courageous actions and excellent police work," said Sheriff Frederick E. Davis. "Officer Johnson's devotion to duty and to the community was certainly evident in his relentless pursuit of this armed robber."