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Dashcam Captures Heroic Officers Pulling Teens From Burning Car

Sep. 3, 2011 8:41pm Christopher Santarelli

Incredible video out of Des Moines, Iowa, of police officers pulling trapped teenage passengers out of a flaming car:

The dramatic dashcam video shows officers pulling passengers yelling for help out from a burning car during a fatal crash early Sunday, August 28.

The 17-year-old driver was killed, but the tragedy could have been much worse if it hadn’t been for the bravery of the officers who pulled out the three other trapped teenagers from the burning car. The three survivors were taken to the hospital where two of the them will have lengthy hospital stays according to KCCI.

Police say a speeding car crashed into the teens’ car after failing to stop at a traffic signal. The driver of the speeding car has been charged with vehicular homicide according to ABC 13.

KCCI reports that Sgt. Michael McTaggart, one of the six officers who pulled the teens from the flaming car, has taken on the role of fast-acting hero before. Seven years ago he rescued a woman from a burning building, however in that same fire, the woman’s 3-year-old perished. After saving one life in 2004, Sgt.McTaggart told the channel then that he wished he had the opportunity to save another life.

Seven years later, Sgt. McTaggart acted heroically once again. After risking his life to pull the teens from the burning car, Sgt. McTaggart modestly put to KCCI “that’s what we get paid to do.”

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Comments (74)

forthepeople
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:15pm
Filming the Police is OK now ? and not other times ? One way or the other gang ! You can not have both, at least so far in America . Next year who knows ?
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- iarefounder
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 6:47am
  It was the police car dash cam that caught this on film.
  
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- RRFlyer
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 9:33am
  I don’t understand you cop haters. there will be a time you wish one was around.
  These people put their lives on the line every day for jerks like you
  
  Report this comment
- bigfatslob
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 11:14am
  Hufpo member ?
  
  Report this comment
- davidstep
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 11:48am
  Dash Cam.
  
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- Segue
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 1:00pm
  I think what Forthepeople is asking is if a citizen filmed this and it went viral would that or could that citizen be arrested? I agree that these guys acted heroically but I also understand the question being asked and I don’t think it has anything to do with hating cops…
  
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- V-MAN MACE
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 7:42pm
  No.
  
  A citizen gets charged with “eavesdropping” and faced with 75 years in prison for filming these PUBLIC SERVANTS, which is exactly what these particular cops were doing- serving the public IN NEED where the public couldn’t for whatever reason serve itself.
  
  Our PUBLIC SERVANTS, however, get to film THEIR MASTERS the PUBLIC and record audio and it’s great because self-segregated sheep worship their police state heroes with a severe case of STOCKHOLM SYNDROME.
  
  GRRR!
  
  TEA!
  
  Report this comment
- politicaljules
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 9:30pm
  Enough bashing cops. Every one of those first responders could have been killed in an instant and they did not care. God Bless them, Honor them, and hold them on the highest pedestal you can find.
  
  One day they may be there to save your child or yourself. God knows what we would do with out them.
  
  Report this comment
- KNaggieland
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 10:35pm
  Actually a us appeals court has ruled that filming police in public places is covered by the 1st amendment.
  
  Regardless of what anyone says it is legal to film police in public place performing their duty as a servant of the public.
  
  Report this comment
CANDLEMAKER
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:15pm
Heros….. all of them !!!!!!! God Bless them and God be with the victim’s loved ones!! Such a sad story when we lose a young life.

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Freedombeliever
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:06pm
You know, when you see Law enforcement perform acts like this is just makes the likes of Daniel Haress seem all the more like an *******. Congrats Sgt. McTaggart and all of those who stood behind you with your heroic acts.
For the bad cops out there, I hope you get caught, lose your jobs and pensions and are replaced by the likes of these aforementioned heroes. God bless.
Clid below is of a “Bad Cop” by contrast – from an earlier Blaze post…
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/i-am-going-to-shoot-you-third-explosive-canton-cop-video-emerges/

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Truth in Christ
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:54pm
Thank you to the police officers here!… Job well done! <3

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- Favored93
  Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:08pm
  Praise God!!! My boy hood heroes show us why every little boy wants to be a cop!
  Well done Officers! WELL DONE!!!
  
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banjarmon
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:53pm
Well Done Guys WELL DONE!!!!

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Obama Bin Lying
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:33pm
For all the Idiots like Encinomom, Sinister lace, and the other Libretrolls who complain about the police. Watch this vid.

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blownaway
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:25pm
Thank God for people (heroes) like this…

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RobertoJiron
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:24pm
America’s finest doing what they know is best. I thank you God for people like that.

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Brittany-Imbriaarts
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:16pm
God Bless these heroes for the fine work they do.

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shirtsbyeric
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:12pm
Oh so it’s not illegal to video tape a cop when he does good?

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- bigfatslob
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 11:16am
  Daily KOS member ?
  
  Report this comment
- politicaljules
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 9:33pm
  Only if it is it illegal to post something that stupid.
  
  Report this comment
sunsetsabunch
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:58pm
Well done !!!

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Seeds
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:55pm
I cant say enough good praise for these men for these professionals.
Be strong and full of good courage for the lord will not forsake you.

And I say the good men were full of good courage!

When it is my turn up.

When our times comes I pray we all will stand strongly for our fellow brother sister mother father daughter son grandma grandpa and neighbor in America for sometimes we do not know the power we have by caring for another human being. Thank you for our free will my lord. Glory to you.

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abbygirl1994
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:37pm
And then we have the heroes in our police force and I believe there are more of them than the bad.. Thanks Guys!

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eyesodd
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:30pm
I personally know several Des Moines police officers. We have, perhaps, one of the most professional and highly regarded police departments in the country. PROUD!

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- bry
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 8:23am
  Please let them know we call them Heros!!
  
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preppymom
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:14pm
That is amazing footage. God Bless those police officers. They could have been blown up at any minute. So sorry for the families of those teens. I’ve lost friends that way in high school.

http://www.crackingthemalecode.com/

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cous1933
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:12pm
It’s nice to see the good cops once in awhile. So much attention goes to the bad cops (like that Harliss jerk in Canton) that people mistakenly believe that the bad behavior is the standard. This is not true. In real life, for every incident of bad cop behavior there are dozens of incidents of cops being a great help (often life-saving, and sometimes at great personal risk).

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Old Truckers
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:07pm
Previously in the Harliss Story, all you police hating guys were condemning all police as corrupt and we don’t need them. Man up now, and lets hear some more of your foolishness.

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chips1
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:06pm
It’s NOT what they get payed to do. It’s what their calling IS. Helping people is their only goal in life. He was there for a reason and completed his task. God bless those people that answer the call.

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Flyinglow6
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:03pm
What bravery. These officers represent what is best about our police force. What a great show of courage and dedication to saving these lives. Great job guys. We are very proud of you.

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Structure21
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:58pm
Job well done to those men in blue!!!

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vnachi77
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:55pm
Ballsy. I’ll hazard a guess that none of the involved cops feels like a hero, just devistated they couldn’t save all the kids. God bless each and everyone of them, as well as the families of the victims.

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Strife
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:53pm
Nice to see some police getting some good recognition…. seems all we see reported about the police is the bad ones.

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Old Truckers
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:53pm
Okay all you haters of the police, what are you going to say?

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- RepubliCorp
  Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:01pm
  Give it a rest, there cops that suck and there are cops that are good. The ones that suck need to be called out. Or would give them a free pass?
  
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- Steverino
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 11:21am
  I would say that the VAST majority of cops are honest, hard working men and women with integrity and fortitude.
  As in any human enterprise, there will ALWAYS be a few “bad apples”.
  Steve
  
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Want our country back
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:53pm
Are these the same professionals that act stupidly according to our president…

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- vnachi77
  Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:58pm
  Anyone want to lay odds on Obama inviting any of these guys to the White House for a beer?
  
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- OhSuzieQ
  Posted on September 4, 2011 at 9:41am
  vnachi77 said,
  “Anyone want to lay odds on Obama inviting any of these guys to the White House for a beer?”
  
  hahahaha! Yeah Right!
  
  Report this comment
airhead0
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:52pm
WOW those are the kind of dash cam videos you should be proud to be a part of.

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- smallbiznessman
  Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:42pm
  Thinking the same thing.
  
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