A Somerset County Sheriff’s Office deputy who alerted a Clinton homeowner to a fire and a corrections officer who intervened in an inmate’s attempt to commit suicide at the Somerset County Jail, saving the man’s life, were recently recognized by the Maine Sheriffs’ Association with awards, according to a press release from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Toby Blodgett received a citation of valor at the sheriff’s association annual banquet March 24 and Corrections Officer Edward Jacques was named corrections officer of the year for 2015, according to the release.

Jacques was at work on March 17, 2015, at the Somerset County Jail and was making a security round when he saw an inmate lying on his stomach in one of the jail’s 72-hour holding areas. Jacques had a feeling that “something just didn’t look right” and upon closer examination noticed what appeared to be a sheet wrapped around the man’s neck, the release said.

He attempted to rouse the man by calling his name and rapping on the cell door. When he didn’t respond, Jacques noticed the other end of the sheet was tied to the upper bunk.

Jacques announced a code blue over the jail radio, summoning an emergency response from security and medical staff. Upon entering the cell he found the inmate had tied the sheet around his neck and was being strangled by it, the release said.

With assistance from security and medical staff, the sheet was cut from the inmate’s neck and he began breathing and eventually talking to staff.

After a medical evaluation the inmate, who was not on suicide watch at the time, was relocated to a high-risk cell.

“Officer Jacques, through his keen observation, diligent attention to safety and security and subsequent response to a medical emergency, first-handedly saved the life of someone who otherwise might not have seen the next day,” the release said. “The values and actions of Officer Edward Jacques exemplify his dedication to his organization and the traits valued by our profession.”

In a separate incident, Deputy Blodgett was returning home around 4 a.m. on Aug. 16 after a busy overnight shift when he saw a glow in the sky and followed it to John Deere Drive in Clinton, the release said.

“Even though Deputy Blodgett had been out all night, was nearly home, and was no longer in his patrol area, he decided he needed to investigate,” the release said. Clinton is in Kennebec County.

Blodgett found a garage at 15 John Deere Drive on fire with the flames endangering a nearby house. Because of the intense heat of the fire, he couldn’t get near the house and wasn’t sure if anyone was inside, the release said, so he drove onto the lawn and activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to wake up anyone inside.

The noise alerted the homeowner to the fire and he and his dog got out safely.

“But for the actions of Deputy Blodgett, the fire would have extended into the man’s home within a matter of a few minutes to the point the man would have been unable to escape,” Investigator Kenneth MacMaster of the Office of the Maine State Fire Marshal said in the release. “It is my true belief that if Deputy Blodgett did not take the actions he did, the man’s exits would have been blocked by fire and smoke and the fire marshal’s office would be investigating a fatal fire.”

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