GENESEE COUNTY, Mich. (WWJ) – Two law enforcement officers who were shot by a suspect in a foot pursuit last month are thanking the community for the outpouring of support they received in the wake of the shooting.
Burton police officer Dalton Christie and Genesee County paramedic deputy Brandon Fachting were both shot in the line of duty on Dec. 21 in Burton.
Authorities say they responded to calls of a man with a gun walking in a neighborhood that day and both chased the suspect, 23-year-old Brendan Pinkston. At one point, Pinkston tried to climb a fence and it collapsed on him, according to a report from ABC 12.
As Christie and Fachting tried to pull the fence off of the suspect, he opened fire, striking both officers. The officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was pronounced dead.
Both Christie and Fachting were put into the back of squad cars and taken to a hospital, where they received treatment for their injuries.
Both are doing well after being released from the hospital.
The officers joined Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson and Burton Police Chief Brian Ross Thursday on Facebook Live to thank not only the officers who took them to the hospital, but the communities that held out a helping hand.
"I can't begin to express the amount of support and love and gratitude from everybody that's helped out and the support for me and my family," Fachting said.
Dalton said it's been the toughest time in his life, but the Burton community and Genesee County at-large have "been outstanding taking care of me, making sure my family's well taken care of."
Both officers, who graduated from the academy less than a year ago, said they have a long road to recovery but are already looking forward to "getting back out there" and serving the community.
The sheriff said community members stepped up in many ways and acknowledged many who gave gifts and donations, including an elderly woman who only had $10 to donate, making sure the officers got $5 each.
"We just want to say from the sheriff's office, city of Burton: for all of the community, for all those that are watching right now, I hope your heart is warmed, I hope you're encouraged that you see the faces behind the support that you gave and allows cops all over, not just in this community, to feel as though that you know our hearts, that we love people," Swanson said.
