Inmates jump in to help kids after canoe overturns
VANCOUVER, Wash. - Inmates on a work crew jumped into action Wednesday when a canoe overturned in a creek near Klineline Pond in Vancouver, sending three children into cold, fast-moving water.
A 16-year-old boy was able to swim to shore, firefighters said. The other two children involved, who are 8 and 11 years old, only managed to swim to some wood debris in the water.
Nancy Simmons with the Larch Correction Center said inmates Larry Bohn and Nelson Pettis were doing work as part of a maintenance crew around noon when the kids fell in Salmon Creek.
Bohn and Pettis jumped in the water to help the stranded boys. Eventually firefighters showed up and were able to bring the boys safely the shore.
The two inmates safely made it out of the water on their own. All five people in the water were taken to area hospitals to get treatment for mild hypothermia.
It was not immediately clear if the children were wearing flotation devices. Simmons said she did not know what Bohn and Pettis were incarcerated for.
Simmons said Pettis was also involved in subduing a man who was assaulting a forestry officer some months ago.
great weather for canoeing!
I hope the Governor reads about these guys. Pettis it sounds like has two good marks on his record now. The Governor has the power to let them go free if their contributions to society outweigh their crimes.
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Well, they're certainly more than Ray Lewis' contributions!
Good job guys, you may have saved a life or two. Maybe the corrections folks ought to be paying attention about now, huh?
Thank you, Gentlemen. There are two youngsters who are alive today because of you.
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I think, if they're crimes aren't too heinous, that these two men be let go.
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They've done good works and need to be set free.
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do you have proof of that>? I think not!
Good Samaritans twice? Maybe early release or home detention is in order.
These men are obviously low threats and low risk of escape, otherwise they wouldn't be on work crew in a public area. They just saved a young boys life. They have repaid their debt to society, time to consider letting them have an early release.
Nope, that isn't repaying debt to society and how do you know they werent pedifiles or rapists anyway?
because pedophiles and rapists aren't allowed to work outside prison!! maybe do some homework before bashing a couple of guys who risked their own lives to save kids they didn't even know! Not every prisoner is a pedophile or rapist. They deserve props for their heroic acts no matter what their crime was.
because pedophiles aren't allowed to do work outside the prison!!! maybe do your homework before jumping to conclusions. two kids are breathing today because of them, they at least deserve respect for putting their own lives on the line for some kids they didn't even know.
Good job, Men!
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(is it ironic that I am watching Cool Hand Luke at the moment?)
What we have here.......
good they were not chained together - good job
Kudos to those men!
I have no idea what the cases of Bohn and Pettis are, but their conduct in these two instances are above reproach. Good work, gentlemen, and I hope that people remember what you did with these boys and the forestry officer rather whatever it was that landed you in jail.
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 @8nthegate If you have to put this word on every post and jump to conclusions like that, can you please at least learn to spell it correctly?
 @svensson The place they live looks kind of nice....
http://www.doc.wa.gov/facilities/prison/lcc/default.asp
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@K. Coleman Ok, they're likely in for minor drug offenses and they've been on very good behavior. You have to earn your way into facilities like Larch.
Just goes to show that not all criminals are all bad. Awesome job! :)
If you're like most of us, we could at one point in our lives have been in jail. Just because they're in jail doesn't mean they're monsters. Good job, guys.
I drove by a inmate work crew on I-5 yesterday around noon. Wonder if it was them? Way to go. Fast action by these guys. They didn't have to do anything, but they risked their lives for someone else. Good job.Â
 @Alaska316 Cannot even begin to imagine one of our fine State legislators doing something courageous like this. Of course they'd be busy taking their clothing to the dry cleaners at taxpayers expense while talking on their State provided cell phones.
Remember these guys people, because when the next person who hits the news about doing wrong, and your calling them a POS. They could be the guy to save your child. Great Job Guys, I don't care why you are inmates.  You did awesome today.Â
@Just my say I only call people a POS when they do something to deserve it.
 @Tattooed_Angel Why do you feel like that is mature behavior? What if you were over weight and I came up to you and called you a fat a**? You don't know me, but in my opinion I think you deserve it for being fat. I don't think anyone deserves to be called names, no matter what. How can you say they do?
@Just my say  Who you callin' FAT?? (says the fat man, not associated with Jake) ;)
You make a very good point. Most people, whether or not they are criminals, would do the same thing.. well, maybe not jump in, but they would whip out their cell phones and take pictures, call 911, and document the kids drowning..Â
I am glad these guys were where they were, and in a position to take quick action..
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Good job, guys! Incarcerated doesn't always equal "bad", which more people ought to understand. It often just means someone made a couple poor choices, and obviously these two made a very positive one today.
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Now, I hope their parents didn't have any clue they were in icy waters...otherwise, shame on them for letting the kids do this; it was minutes from being much worse.
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 @Hadrian canoeing in icy water isn't that big of a deal with the proper equipment (flotation devices, warm cloths, etc.)
 @Jalharad 11 and 8 years old. Yes, it is.
 @Mr. H  @Eduardo  @Hadrian  @Jalharad Yes, but this is not the time of year for children to be playing in or on the water. They can die without drowning. Tell you what, find a stream and submerse your body for 180 seconds, just three minutes. To be fair do not have a source of warmth any where close. You'll learn from that situation.
@Eduardo Capistrano @Hadrian @Jalharad
At least they weren't in the house playing video games and stuffing their face full of chips....Â
Kids need to be out, and yes, some will get themselves into dangerous positions.. but they learn from those situations.. and that is part of growing up..
It is also something that builds self confidence, which quite a few of our kids lack these days..
 @Hadrian  @Jalharad Ya gotta wonder where the f%$#@ their parents were!!!
 @Hadrian I like your outlook.  Yes, they made some bad choices, but then again who hasn't.
I hope when they go look for a job after they get out some employer remembers their names and gives them a second chance in life.
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Hats off to Larry Bohn and Nelson Pettis. Thanks for caring.