MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Two Anoka County Employees Awarded Medal of Valor After Preventing Armed Suicide and Disarming Gunman at Coon Lake Beach Park

Transportation Division Workers Praised for Extraordinary Courage During Life-Threatening Mental Health Crisis

ANOKA COUNTY, MN (June 18, 2026)  The decision took only seconds.

Two Anoka County employees were carrying out routine maintenance duties on a spring afternoon when they noticed what appeared to be a man in distress inside a vehicle near Coon Lake Beach Park in Columbus.

What happened next would transform an ordinary workday into one of the most dangerous moments either man had ever faced.

County transportation workers Benjamin Hyland and Matthew Brisson have been awarded the Anoka County Sheriff's Office Medal of Valor after authorities say they intervened to stop an armed individual from taking his own life, disarmed him after a gun discharged during a struggle, and helped protect responding law enforcement officers from further violence.

The Medal of Valor is among the highest distinctions awarded by the Sheriff's Office, reserved for individuals whose actions demonstrate exceptional heroism in the face of significant personal danger.

According to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred on May 19, 2026, at Coon Lake Beach Park, a popular public recreation area in northern Anoka County.

Hyland and Brisson, both employees of the Anoka County Transportation Division, were conducting routine public works operations in the vicinity when they observed an adult male struggling to exit a parked vehicle.

Believing the individual might be experiencing a medical emergency or otherwise required assistance, the two men approached.

Instead, they found themselves confronting a crisis few public employees ever expect to encounter.

Authorities said the man suddenly produced a handgun, placed the barrel in his mouth, and made statements indicating his intention to die by suicide.

Faced with an immediate threat to human life, Hyland and Brisson acted.

Investigators say both men immediately moved to restrain the individual, attempting to control his hands and prevent him from firing the weapon.

What followed was a violent struggle at close range.

During the confrontation, the handgun discharged.

The round traveled harmlessly into a nearby wooded area. No bystanders, county employees, or park visitors were struck.

Even after the weapon fired, Hyland and Brisson continued the struggle.

Authorities said Brisson successfully wrestled the handgun away from the individual while both men maintained physical control until deputies arrived at the scene.

The danger, however, was not over.

When Anoka County Sheriff's Deputy Mason Waldera arrived and attempted to take the individual into custody, the man allegedly resisted arrest and engaged in a violent confrontation with law enforcement.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the individual attempted to disarm Deputy Waldera by reaching for the deputy's service weapon before he was ultimately subdued, handcuffed, and taken into custody.

Authorities later transported the man to a regional medical facility under an emergency psychiatric hold after determining he posed a danger to himself and others.

The Sheriff's Office said criminal charges related to the incident remain pending.

Because of the medical nature of the call, authorities have not publicly identified the individual involved.

Law enforcement leaders say the actions of Hyland and Brisson directly altered the outcome of the incident.

Without their intervention, officials believe the situation could have ended in suicide or escalated into a broader public safety emergency involving responding officers and members of the public.

"What Benjamin Hyland and Matthew Brisson did that day goes far beyond what anyone would expect," Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise said in a statement announcing the awards. "These two men ran toward danger, risking their own lives to save someone else's. Their courage and selflessness are nothing short of remarkable."

The recognition reflects not only the physical danger the men confronted but also the compassion that motivated their response.

Neither employee was acting in a law enforcement capacity. Neither was required to intervene.

Yet both chose to engage an armed individual during a mental health crisis in an effort to save a life.

Joe MacPherson, Anoka County's Chief Officer of Transportation and County Engineer, said the actions demonstrated the character and commitment that public servants bring to their work every day.

"We are incredibly proud of Benjamin and Matthew," MacPherson said. "The bravery and compassion they demonstrated during such a traumatic event speak powerfully to their character and genuine commitment to helping others."

Mental health professionals frequently note that suicidal crises are often acute and time-sensitive, with opportunities for intervention measured in moments rather than hours. Research consistently shows that restricting access to lethal means during periods of crisis can dramatically improve the likelihood of survival and recovery.

The events at Coon Lake Beach Park underscore both the unpredictable nature of such emergencies and the profound impact that immediate intervention can have.

For Hyland and Brisson, the encounter began with a simple act of concern for someone who appeared to need help.

By the time it ended, authorities say, they had prevented a suicide, disarmed an armed individual, protected a responding deputy, and likely prevented further tragedy.

On June 17, county leaders formally recognized those actions by presenting each man with the Anoka County Sheriff's Office Medal of Valor.

The medal may commemorate a single day, but officials say it also serves as a reminder of something larger: that extraordinary acts of courage often begin with ordinary people deciding not to walk away.

Editor's Note: If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, emotional distress, or a mental health crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Confidential support is also available at 988lifeline.org.

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