Weigel’s worker helps save overdose victim
Weigel’s employee Darious Dunson and Clinton Police Department Officer Jessica Daugherty received these certificates at the May 18 Clinton City Council meeting for a rescue they performed in April. Shown with them is Chief of Police James Campbell. (photo:Submitted )
Clinton Police Chief James Campbell told the City Council about the incident, and honored the people involved at the May 18 council meeting.
The Clinton Police Department gave additional details on its official Facebook page.
A person became incapacitated in the women’s restroom of Weigel’s on North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard near Interstate 75. Weigel’s employee Darious Dunson found the individual in crisis, and immediately contacted Anderson County Dispatch. He followed dispatch’s directions to do emergency CPR on the individual, who the CPD stated in its news release had experienced an overdose.
CPD Officer Jessica Daugherty then arrived on scene, administered Narcan and helped with resuscitation.
“We didn’t know if the person was going to come back or not,” Campbell told the council, but said Daugherty was successful.
Anderson County Emergency Medical Services then transported the patient to a hospital.
“Thanks to this rapid, coordinated effort, the individual responded to the treatment and became fully responsive,” the CPD stated.
Campbell said Dunson was under “no obligation” to assist but nonetheless did.
“A lot of that had to do with his prior military training and his conscientious and caring desire to be helpful,” Campbell said.
“We find situations like this involving our officers and we are proud of what actions they do, but sometimes we find somebody like Mr. Dunson who takes an exceptional step to go out and do more than just make that initial phone call.”
Campbell gave both Dunson and Daugherty certificates honoring their actions at the May 18 meeting. Applause from the council and audience greeted them.
The CPD later posted at length about the incident to Facebook, asking the public to join it in thanking Dunson and Daugherty.
“When a community member rises to the occasion like this, it changes everything,” the CPD stated. “Minutes, and even seconds, matter immensely during an overdose or cardiac event. A private citizen willing to step up bridges the critical gap between the onset of an emergency and the arrival of first responders.
“Mr. Dunson’s actions are a powerful reminder of how important we are to one another. True community safety isn’t just about the uniforms on patrol; it’s about neighbors looking out for neighbors.”
