VPD’s Battle, Ragan and Scallions go above and beyond

Vicksburg police officers Michael Battle, Steven Ragan and Blake Scallions spent part of their 103-degree afternoon shift helping a stranded trucker.

It’s hot

While most of us were hiding in air-conditioned comfort, Vicksburg Police were out patrolling the city and keeping us safe. Three of those units, Michael Battle, Steven Ragan and Blake Scallions helped a trucker whose load had shifted Friday afternoon.

Battle is also a member of the Southside Riders motorcycle club (with permission)

VPD Officer Blake Scallions

VPD Officer Steven Ragan. Photo by David Day

The 18-wheeler had to pull over at Warrenton and Rifle Range Road on Friday afternoon after his load shifted on the back of his truck. Several wooden crates holding insulators were leaning precariously off the flatbed. The only thing that stopped them from crashing to the ground was the straps. Officer Steven Ragan was the first unit on the scene and safely directed traffic around the stranded trucker.

Trucker is still stranded

This morning the trucker was still there. He told VPD his company said they were not going to pay for a wrecker and for the trucker to figure it out. So, he cut the straps allowing the displaced units to fall to the ground. He then went to Ergon Marine where, according to a VPD unit, the trucker received assistance strapping in the remaining units on the flatbed. He left the trailer there and went to Home Depot to rent a van. The plan was to get the remaining contents of the crates off the ground, into the van and then to the flatbed.

The 100 items to be loaded were insulators. Photo by Paul Ingram

Close to 100 units at 50 pounds each remained on the ground to be loaded into the rental van.

This is where one of the three officers you see above said they were going to help the trucker load those 100 units. The other two units immediately announced on the radio they were on their way to help.

To Protect and Serve

In 103-degree weather, the three VPD units assisted that stranded trucker and loaded up the rental van with the remaining parts.

The flatbed

The trucker is still at Home Depot and trying to find a way to load those units onto the back of the flatbed parked at Ergon.