Wisconsin Medics Honored for Unusual Rescue

After witnessing a pursesnatching, they chased and caught the suspect.


MILWAUKEE --

Two Milwaukee County paramedics were honored Thursday for stopping a pursesnatcher on Milwaukee's east side.

William Echevarria and Jason Oberg were near Farwell Avenue and Windsor Place last month when they saw a man punch an elderly woman and take her purse.

They chased the man down, and held him until police arrived.

Thursday, the Milwaukee County Board honored the two heroes.

"As they were wrestling this guy to the ground, he pulled out what looked like a real gun, and they smacked him on the head with the walkie talkie," Milwaukee Fire Department Assistant Chief Brian Glassel said.

"I accept this on behalf of all the firefighters across the state of Wisconsin (who) every day risking their lives to help someone they don't know, never met before," Oberg said.

Oberg said this was a great day for him, but probably not as great as his partner's who is in Puerto Rico getting married.

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