Prineville citizens honored after helping police officer in peril

In police work, facing danger is part of the job.

Any particular shift, an officer could find his or herself at risk of injury or even death. Last year, 138 police officers died while on duty and another 80 have died so far in 2024.

What is far less common is everyday citizens facing danger to help an officer in their time of need. Yet, that is exactly what two Prineville residents did during an attempted arrest earlier this month, and their bravery was rewarded and celebrated at a city council meeting this past week.

“On July 11, Officer Daniel Yanes kissed his wife and small children goodbye and went to work,” Interim Chief Shane Wilson shared. “That evening, he contacted a male subject in a vehicle in a parking lot at a local gas station. Officer Yanes recognized the person, knew that he had a valid warrant for his arrest. He informed the person that he had warrants and was under arrest.”

The subject didn’t comply. He instead lunged for a gun in the passenger seat of the car. Yanes tried to stop him and both men wrestled vigorously enough to roll across the front seat and out the passenger door. The gun was still on the passenger seat, the door now open.

“Officer Yanes struggled to get this person to the ground and control and arrest him,” Wilson continued. “The subject continued fighting with him as they were between two vehicles in a parking lot in a really tight place.”

That is when the subject decided to go after his gun and other weapons. Yanes continued to fight, now trying to prevent him from grabbing his firearm or anything else the subject could use to harm him – including the gun still in the passenger seat.

“Things at this time were going from bad to worse,” Wilson recalls. “We had other officers in route, coming to assist, but at this time, Officer Yanes was still alone.”

That was when Nathan Gregory and his girlfriend Marcie Thomas intervened, their help captured by Yanes’ body camera. On it, a voice can be heard: “I will not let you hurt him!”

Then, the two local residents took action. Thomas slammed the car door shut, cutting off access to that gun, then stood guard so nobody could reopen it. Nathan, meanwhile, grabbed the subject and helped Yanes take him to the ground and put him in handcuffs, just as other officers began to arrive.

Wilson pointed out to the city councilors and the many law enforcement officers and their families in the audience how much danger this subject presented. Officers ultimately recovered three guns, not just one, in the vehicle as well as some drugs. In addition, he is a known felon with an extensive criminal history.

“Nathan and Marcie disregarded their own safety to help an officer in need. Their heroic acts that evening possibly saved a life and allowed Officer Yanes to return home to his wife and children,” Wilson said.

The two residents were then invited up front to a standing ovation, and Yanes presented them both with Citizen's Award for Bravery plaques.

Following their recognition, Wilson asked Yanes and his wife to join him up front, where he was presented with a medal of commendation for valor.

“You used your training, you gave great verbal commands, and you never gave up,” Wilson told Yanes. “Your courage that night is commendable.”