When was the last time you had to circle back home for a vital piece of the day you forgot? How irritated were you?
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Some believes that there are no coincidences, that everything happens for a reason. I don’t know what Earl Melchert believed before Sept. 5, but I bet he’ll never grumble about such an error ever again.
Melchert had returned to his home in Barrett, Minnesota mid-day to pick up the diesel can he’d intended to fill up on his way home from work. In the distance, he spied what he thought was a deer, but as it ran closer, he realized it was a person!
The deer turned out to be a terrified 15-year-old girl by the name of Jasmine Block. She was soaking wet and anxious to take refuge inside Melchert’s truck.
Melcher, however, recognized the girl instantly. He’d seen her face on the news, on flyers, and plastered across the internet. Block had been missing from her Alexandria, Minnesota home since Aug. 9.
According to Block, on that night Jay Baker, the 32-year-old father of her friend, came to her home late at night soliciting her help with his son. Block got into his truck and accompanied Barker to his house in Carlos, Minnesota.
Once there, Block was restrained with zip ties. For 29 days, Baker, along with his two friends Jason Lee Holby, 31, and Michael Samuel Powers, 21, kept and continously sexually assaulted her. They repeatedly moved her to different locations.
Block told investigators that Baker tried to kill her thrice, once by trying to drown her in the bathtub, though he lacked the needed strength due to his cerebral palsy. On Sept. 5, two of the men were transporting Block in a duffel back in the back of a pick-up truck. When the two went inside a convenience store, Block saw her opportunity and made a dash for it. When she was not successful finding help in nearby houses, she swam across a lake reaching land near Melchert’s home.
Block’s captors were actively looking for her, hence her desperation to get inside Melchert’s truck. She pointed them out as Melchert called 911, and again when the police arrived, which ultimately led to the arrest of all three presumed captors.
Powers has confessed to spending two weeks at Baker’s residence and engaging in sexual conduct with the child. Baker, on the other hand, admits to heavy drug and alcohol use but refutes any accusations of acquaintance with Block, including picking her up and holding her captive.
For Melchert’s efforts, the Alexandria Police Department presented the reward money offered to anyone who assisted in Block’s return. The $7,000 appreciation was put up by Block’s family and an anonymous donor.
Today we witnessed an incredible example of kindness. Earl Melchert, the man who made the call everyone was waiting for on 09-05-17, was presented with the reward money that had been offered by the Sarah Block family and an anonymous source.
What no one expected was the kindness and generosity that came straight from Earl’s heart today. He believes that young lady that came running towards him that September day is the real hero and without hesitation, Earl handed the reward over to her, followed by a big hug. Thank you Earl, it is people like you that make this world a better place.
Have a great day everyone and please remember to be kind to one another.
Chief Rick Wyffels
Melchert, who just retired last week, surprised everyone when he smile, turned, and immediately handed the check to Block and gave her a big hug. “It’s the best thing I could have ever done,” said Melchert to the New York Times. “What a retirement present, to hand over some money to people that really need it.”
If Melchert hadn’t left his diesel can, he wouldn’t have been home to save Block’s life. The next time I have to double back in my day, instead of being frustrated, I’ll ask myself how this may fit in a bigger picture.
Unfortunately, there are some drivers who should not be allowed to be behind the steering wheel of a car.
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But, for one reason or another, they were able to slip through the system and hold a valid license.
Whether age had impacted their reflexes or a physical impairment they did not have before has now rendered them incapable of driving safely, it matters not. They should not be on the road.
Stephen O’Donovan was at his home tinkering with his car radio one day when he heard what sounded like a door being shut loudly. Looking up, he saw a silver Ford Focus driving away.
But this was not all he saw. Something looked like it had fallen from the sky, landing on the sidewalk and rolling over twice.
The noise he heard was not a car door, and what he saw fallen from the sky was not some kind of mysterious unidentifiable object. The noise was the sound of Luke, his 6-year-old son, being struck by the car and catapulted through the air, landing on the sidewalk.
Luke, who had been inside playing computer games, left the house to see if a friend was home. He was making his was through the street back to his house when the car slammed into him.
John O’Brien, another motorist who had witnessed the event, said he saw the car brake and swerve. He also saw smoke coming from the wheels of the car.
The driver of the vehicle that had hit Luke was Edmond Walsh, age 51. Walsh had received two traumatic brain injuries, had to take 18 pills a day, and was said to have pedantic and child-like responses.
Luke’s mother, Josephine O’Donovan, said, “This man, I would say, has the mentality of a child. He ran home to tell his dad, he got home to tell his dad. But Luke didn’t get home to tell his.”
Luke died from his injuries, and his parents are now calling him a “super-hero.” They agreed to donate their son’s organs to be used to help save others.
Jo & Steve O’Donovan from Ballymacoda, Co. Cork who recently visited the Circle of Life Garden. In 2014 their only child Luke (aged 6) was knocked down outside their home and they donated his organs for transplantation which, they feel, has been of some comfort to them during the difficult times of the past few years.
As a result of their decision, four others have now been given a second chance at life. Stephen and Josephine said this is a comfort.
Stephen said, “We always taught Luke that caring is sharing or sharing is caring. I suppose this was the ultimate example of that.”
ARENT’S APPEAL – Stephen and Josephine O’Donovan, from Ballymacoda, Co Cork are the parents of little boy Luke (6) who was killed in a hit and run accident. They have called for tighter driving licence controls after it emerged the motorist’s licence was renewed after he had suffered two significant brain injuries which left him with the mentality of a child. Eoin English from The Irish Examiner was at the inquest..
He went on to say, “But you can roll the clock back and ask was this person even fit to be on the road? If he had been flagged earlier he might not even have been driving that day at that place. The system failed.”
Walsh’s car was specially equipped due to his restrictive movement of one leg and one arm. He already received a two-year suspended prison sentence and lost his driving privileges for 10 years, but said he would never drive again.
After returning their verdict in the case, the jury suggested this case be forwarded to all appropriate departments in hopes of preventing a future similar occurrence. “We don’t want any other family in our situation,” said Stephen.