Flagler County Deputy & Dispatcher Work Together, Rescue Gopher Tortoise

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Flagler County, FL - A Flagler County Sheriff's Office deputy and dispatcher worked together to rescue a Florida gopher tortoise that was trapped under a woman's car.

According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Agricultural Deputy, Steve Williams, and Communications Specialist, Danielle Brown, responded to a call from Julie Tallaksen, Bunnell.

Tallaksen called the FCSO's non-emergency number when she realized she had backed over a tortoise with her car. She thought it was a toy at first, but then saw it was "Jerry," a tortoise her family had named because of frequent sightings.

Brown quickly located Deputy Williams who worked with Tallaksen to free the tortoise. By moving the car back and forth, Williams managed to safely retrieve Jerry with only a few scuffs and scratches to his shell, he said.

"That turtle was so happy to be freed. It stuck its head out as if to say thank you," said Williams.

"Danielle Brown went above and beyond her duty to locate Deputy Williams to try to help me. Deputy Williams made it a priority to get to my home to help," Tallaksen wrote in a letter to Sheriff Rick Staly. "When he arrived, he knew immediately that this tortoise was stuck and in danger. I didn't think the tortoise was alive but when Deputy Williams picked him up, he popped out his head and was put on the grass and he walked away, unharmed. I just want you to know that I appreciate what Deputy Williams and Dispatcher Danielle Brown did to help."

Sheriff Staly commended Williams and Brown. "I'm very proud of our employees and I know they were committed to helping solve this problem. We care about our community, even the four-legged residents," said Staly.

Deputy Williams estimates Jerry to be at least 50 years old, weighing 25-30 pounds.

"That's the biggest gopher turtle I've seen personally and I was raised in Florida," said Williams.

Photos courtesy of the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.

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