Father, Son Honored for Helping Cops

A father-son duo were honored at this month's American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast for helping a Watsonville police officer detain a suspected car burglar last winter. Watsonville Police Chief Manny Solano nominated Richard and Jon Dallimonti for the award. The Dallimontis were among about 20 people honored at the annual Heroes Breakfast.

Here's the chief's account of the Dallimontis' brave actions.

On 11/28/2010 at 4:37 a.m., Watsonville Police Officer Brian Fulgoni was dispatched to the area of Firethorn Way and Hope Drive for a suspicious person trying to open car doors. The male suspect was seen walking on Firethorn Way toward Hope Dr. in Watsonville.

While checking the area Officer Fulgoni located a subject next to a Ford Mustang parked in front of 81 Peace Drive. As he drove closer, he noticed a male subject inside the vehicle that matched the description given. The car door suddenly opened all the way and the suspect was standing outside the Ford leaning into the vehicle.

When Officer Fulgoni shined his spotlight on the suspect, the suspect slowly got into the driver seat of the Ford, closed the door and refused to get out. Officer Fulgoni could not see into the vehicle due to a layer of ice over the driver side windows so he opened the unlocked driver's door. The suspect was sitting in the driver's seat reaching for something on the right side of his body. Officer Fulgoni yelled for the suspect to place his hands on the steering wheel, but he didn't comply.

For his safety, Officer Fulgoni grabbed the suspect's arm and attempted to pull him out of the Ford. The suspect resisted and Officer Fulgoni believed he may be armed or trying to arm himself. The suspect attempted to climb over the driver's door and run.

As Officer Fulgoni struggled to get the suspect under control, Mr. Richard Dallimonti came out of his residence and asked if he needed help. Officer Fulgoni said yes so Richard ran over and began to help him by preventing the suspect from climbing over the driver's door and allowing Officer Fulgoni to be able to pin the suspect against the door frame.

A Officer Fulgoni took the suspect to the ground and tried to control him, the suspect wrapped his arms around Officer Fulgoni's neck and began pulling and squeezing the sides of his neck, putting severe pressure on the carotid arteries.

Officer Fulgoni felt the pressure on his neck from the suspect's arms building at the force caused his neck to be pressed against the top portion of his armored vest. Officer Fulgoni felt his airway become restricted and he started to get a tingling feeling in his face and head.

Officer Fulgoni was able to get the suspect to release his arms from around his neck, but the suspect continued to fight.

As the sounds of police sirens could be heard in the distance, Officer Fulgoni asked R. Dallimonti to lie on his back and keep the suspect pinned on the ground until backup arrived. R. Dallimonti quickly laid on the officer's back and helped keep the suspect on the ground.

Seconds later, R. Dallimonti's son, Jon Dallimonti, arrived and asked what he could do to help. Officer Fulgoni told him to tell the first police officer who arrives that his dad was on top of him helping control the combative suspect.

J. Dallimonti did exactly as instructed and told the first officer who arrived that his dad was helping Officer Fulgoni. With everyone's help, the suspect was finally subdued and placed into custody. At this point, R. Dallimonti discovered the suspect had bitten his hand sometime during the struggle, but had not broke the skin. R. Dallimonti owned the Ford that the suspect was in.

The suspect was booked into and remains in Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of assaulting a police officer likely to cause great bodily injury or death, felony auto burglary, felony possession of stolen property, participation in a criminal street gang and resisting arrest.

Richard and Jon Dallimonti's unselfish actions and willingness to risk their personal safety to come to the aid of Officer Fulgoni, who at one point was courageously fighting for his life, was a brave and heroic act.