Randall County deputy, Good Samaritan disarm man having mental health crisis

RANDALL COUNTY, Texas (KVII) — A Randall County deputy and a Good Samaritan disarmed a man who was having a mental health crisis.

According to the sheriff's office, Deputy Jacob Cochran was dispatched to conduct a welfare check on a man.

Craig Trammel was driving by when he saw the man and thought he might need help. So he called 911 and stayed around just in case.

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Cochran quickly recognized the man was in the midst of a mental crisis.

While Cochran was talking to him and waiting on an ambulance to arrive, the man pulled a gun out of his waistband.

"Thanks to the training and skills of the deputy and the courage of (Trammel), they were able to disarm the individual and keep him from harming anyone," said the sheriff's office.

Cochran and Trammel stayed with the man and kept him comfortable until medical personnel arrived.

On Tuesday, Sheriff Chris Forbis awarded Trammel the“Friend of the Sheriff” award and recognized Cochran for his handling of the situation.

Cochran joined the sheriff's office in March 2022 after graduating from the Panhandle Regional Law Enforcement Academy.

He received the Top Gun award for the highest firearms scores in the class, and the Walter Eubanks award. The Walter Eubanks award recognizes the person the class would most like to work with or for in the future.