Pubdate: Sat, 05 Apr 2014
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Joe Warmington
Page: 5

COURTHOUSE HERO'S POT CHARGE DROPPED

The hero who saved a police officer's life no longer has a drug charge
hanging over her.

"And I won't have a criminal record," said Linda Hunt. "I am so
relieved."

The 54-year-old who leapt to the assistance of Peel Regional Police
Const. Mike Klarenbeek and pressed on his wound to stop the bleeding
says she got the good news exactly one week after being in the middle
of last Friday's shooting at the courthouse in Brampton.

Hunt said she was told the charge had been withdrawn and a spokesman
for the Ministry of the Attorney General confirmed it Friday.

She was before the courts on a marijuana possession charge and was to
attend a hearing on it last March 28.

But before entering the courtroom, Hunt was sitting next to the
security area when Klarenbeek was struck with a bullet.

"I saw the blood pumping out of him so I knew I had to do something,"
she recalled.

Her St. John's Ambulance training from three decades ago came in handy
and with the strong hands of another Peel officer was able to control
the bleeding until the paramedics arrived.

Witnesses said her fast action was so impressive everybody thought she
was a nurse.

Even Klarenbeek's wife, Lynn, put out a statement on behalf of the
wounded officer that thanked "the nurse" who saved him.

Hunt said she is not sure if all the publicity played a role inn her
charges being dropped but either way she is grateful. She said she was
also worried about news there had actually been a warrant issued for
her arrest for not showing up in court a week earlier.

"The judge was so nice and said there was no longer a warrant," Hunt
said laughing.

Hunt refuses to accept that she is a hero and says she is more
concerned about Klarenbeek's recovery.

She's happy to hear he is home now and said she will not press to meet
him but plans to write him a letter.
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MAP posted-by: Matt