SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A woman was arrested on suspicion of battery on a peace officer and other charges after she fought with a deputy and a sergeant while they saved her from drowning Sunday in the Russian River, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said.
Lacey Mosher, 38, of Santa Rosa, was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of felony resisting arrest, felony battery on a peace officer, misdemeanor being under the influence of drugs, and felony violation of probation. She was being held without bail because of the probation violation.
Dispatchers received a 911 call around 4:20 p.m. Sunday about a child who was being swept down the Russian River from Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville. The river was high due to recent rains, resulting in rapids and debris in the water, and the water was very cold, the sheriff’s office said.
Sgt. Gary Lawson was the first member of the sheriff’s office to see the person in the middle of the river, struggling to stay afloat where Fife Creek enters the river. Lawson removed his gear and went into the water. Deputy Anthony Powers had a life vest in his patrol car and he threw it to the sergeant, who put it on.
When Lawson reached the person — who turned out to be a woman later identified as Mosher — it is alleged that Mosher immediately began fighting Lawson and pushing him under the water. They struggled in the water, with Mosher continuing to fight him as he rescued her. Lawson gained enough control to swim while pulling her across the river where he held onto a bush about 15 feet from the shore.
Deputy Cody McCready found them, removed his gear, and swam over to help control her. Mosher continued to fight both the sergeant and the deputy as they rescued her. There was deep, fast-moving water between them and the shore and they could not swim back to land.
Sonoma County Fire District firefighters arrived by boat and, because of the small size of the boat, rescued Mosher first. When firefighters returned to rescue the two members of the sheriff’s office, Lawson had been in the water for about 25 minutes. He and McCready were treated for exposure and released at the scene.
Mosher was taken to a local hospital for treatment and continued to assault first responders and medical personnel, the sheriff’s office said. She was arrested Monday afternoon on multiple aforementioned charges.
“This was an extremely difficult call for our deputies and dispatchers,” the sheriff’s office said. “Deputies on land lost sight of the two deputies in the water. Both deputies came close to losing their lives while they rescued Mosher, which ultimately saved her life.”
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The sheriff’s office also thanked its partner agencies, including Sonoma County Fire District and CHP-Santa Rosa, for their help in responding to the incident.
“In line with our culture of service over self, Sgt. Lawson and Deputy McCready heroically risked their lives to save someone,” Sheriff Eddie Engram said Monday. “They exemplify what it means to be a Sonoma County deputy sheriff.”
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