Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SERGEANT PATRICK SWIFT, MASTER DEPUTY MATTHEW BROAD, DEPUTY KYLE ALEXANDER, AND DEPUTY RYAN HUMBURG AND K9 NIKOS OF THE GREENVILLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE UPON RECEIVING THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION MEDAL OF VALOR.
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is pleased to salute the heroic service of law enforcement officers like Sergeant Patrick Swift, Master Deputy Matthew Broad, Deputy Kyle Alexander, and Deputy Ryan Humburg and K9 Nikos who put the safety of their fellow citizens above their own; and
Whereas, the South Carolina Sheriff's Association Medal of Valor is awarded to any deputy sheriff who performs actions above and beyond the call of duty; who exhibits exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and presence of mind; or who performs with an unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life; and
Whereas, on the evening of September 29, 2021, Anthony Hawthorne, the alleged suspect, and his mother argued at their shared home. The argument escalated until the suspect pulled out a firearm shooting his mother several times. The mother fled from the home and called 9-1-1. Responding deputies were unable to make contact with the suspect who by then had barricaded himself inside the home. SWAT was requested; and
Whereas, with SWAT on the scene, attempts to contact the suspect were unsuccessful. A robot sent into the home located Hawthorne, who appeared to be unarmed. An attempt was made to deploy a chemical irritant into the room, but the suspect left the room, disabling the robot to prevent it from following him; and
Whereas, SWAT next approached the front door with K9 Nikos. When the K9 made contact with the suspect, he produced a firearm shooting Nikos several times. Nikos was extracted by his handler, Deputy Ryan Humburg, and taken for emergency care; and
Whereas, SWAT members retreated to cover, and for several hours, used chemical munitions to try and coax the suspect out of the house. He refused however and appeared to be immune to the chemical irritants; and
Whereas, in the early morning, two more robots sent into the home found the suspect lying on the floor with what appeared to be a rifle. The decision was made to attempt apprehending the suspect with a small element of SWAT operators; and
Whereas, led by Sergeant Patrick Swift, Master Deputy Matt Broad and Deputy Kyle Alexander all entered the home, the latter using a ballistic shield to cover Sergeant Swift who would deploy a taser while Master Deputy Broad provided lethal cover; and
Whereas, the taser was successfully used, but between cycles the suspect used an aerosol can and butane lighter to make a flame thrower, creating flames extending several feet toward the operators; and
Whereas, without hesitation Deputy Alexander, using the ballistic shield as cover, jumped on top of Hawthorne, smothering the flames and allowing Sergeant Swift and Master Deputy Broad to apprehend him without further injury to him or any deputies; and
Whereas, these deputies, along with Deputy Ryan Humburg and K9 Nikos, risked their lives to apprehend a suspect who had resisted all other arrest attempts. Without their courage and valor, an arrest by other means could have resulted in severe injury or human toll; and
Whereas, grateful for their sacrificial service on behalf of the citizens of the Greenville County, the General Assembly takes great pleasure in applauding these heroic deputies. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor Sergeant Patrick Swift, Master Deputy Matthew Broad, Deputy Kyle Alexander, and Deputy Ryan Humburg and K9 Nikos of the Greenville County Sheriff's Office upon receiving the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association Medal of Valor.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Sergeant Patrick Swift, Master Deputy Matthew Broad, Deputy Kyle Alexander, and Deputy Ryan Humburg and K9 Nikos.
This web page was last updated on January 12, 2022 at 3:46 PM