Lt. Dan Owens was preparing for a debrief on an unattended baggage incident two weeks ago when another incident unfolded in front of him.
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“I heard some yelling I looked up and noticed the blood. I didn't even know who was bleeding at the time yet,” said Owens who oversees Fire and EMS operations and has worked for Bishop International Airport for 26 years.
Owens says he rushed to the commotion and discovered his colleague of 17 years, Lt. Jeff Neville, fending off an attacker.
The FBI has identified that knife attacker as Tunisian born Amor Ftouhi, a Canadian citizen.
Witnesses say Lt. Neville fought the attacker to the ground on his own before Lt. Owens, Airport Public Safety director Christopher Miller and a maintenance worker identified as Richard Kurl, helped detain the attacker.
Owens says he asked Miller and Kurl to step back to find out who was bleeding. That’s when he saw Neville’s injuries. He described that moment when recalling his visit with Neville in the hospital.
“It was very surreal, it was very emotional to see him 6 to 7 hours earlier kneeling down on the carpet here with blood coming out of his neck and EMS, medics taking his vest off and treating him,” said Owens.
Neville is a man of character and a great police officer according to Owens.
“He was the first guy that would help anybody and the first guy to run to an emergency,” said Owens.
Neville also has a sense of humor, one that remains as he recovers from his injuries.
“It was kind of funny. He asked me how I was doing, I said ‘a little tired hungry, I haven't had a bite but i think i’m doing better than you.’”
