Stephens Co Sheriff’s Deputies Receive Medal of Valor
(L – R) Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies Connie Morris and Bruce Cleveland. Photo courtesy: Dennis Bell
By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa
Two Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies are in the spotlight.
They are being honored by the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association with the Medal of Valor.
Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said he nominated deputies Bruce Cleveland and Connie Morris for their efforts at the scene of a multi-car wreck on Highway 106 May 12th.
Shirley says deputies Cleveland and Morris arrived to what was a very severe accident scene.
The accident involved a 1999 Toyota Tacoma driven by 21-year-old Reed Edward Haga of Carnesville.
Haga was traveling north on Highway 106 when authorities say he crossed the centerline into the southbound lane.
Haga’s vehicle then struck a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 32-year-old Candice Sanders Huot of Toccoa head-on, as Huot drove southbound on Highway 106.
A third vehicle, a 2012 Chevrolet pick-up driven by 59-year-old Bruce Warren Gay of Carnesville, was traveling behind Huot’s vehicle and was unable to stop for the sudden collision in front of him and his vehicle struck Huot’s vehicle.
Haga was pronounced dead at the scene.
“One of the trucks was already engulfed in flames when deputies arrived,” said Shirley. “The flames from that vehicle were spreading to another vehicle with a woman and small child in it.”
The sheriff says the woman, 32-year-old Huot of Toccoa, was trapped inside her vehicle by the steering wheel. He says that’s when the deputies and others sprang into action.
“Sgt. Cleveland and another man literally broke the steering wheel,” said Shirley. “Sgt. Cleveland and Corporal Connie Morris were able to pull her through the window of the car.”
The deputies were also able to pull a small child in the car to safety as well.
Afterwards, Shirley says they submitted deputies Cleveland and Morris to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association for consideration for the Medal Of Valor and members of the GSA chose them, along with deputies from two other counties for the recognition.
The sheriff says it is quite an honor for deputies Cleveland and Morris to be recognized in this way.
“I am so very proud of both of them,” said Shirley. “This is quite an honor for both.”
Deputies Cleveland and Morris received their awards this week at the annual Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Sheriffs’ Summer Conference Banquet at Jekyll Island.