Saturday evening, four Jones County Sheriff's Department deputies were awarded the Medal of Valor following critical, life-threatening incidents which they were involved in during 2020 while serving the residents of Jones County according to a press release.

Deputy Matt Bailey was one of the four awarded the Medal of Valor Saturday evening. Deputy Bailey was conducting a traffic stop and was shot at by a suspect.

Ralston “Roscoe” Sinclair Keyes fled the scene of the incident on foot and was captured one week later by a U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the Jones County Sheriff's Department SWAT Team.

Deputy Miguel Grimaldo was the second officer who was awarded the honor per the press release.

Deputy Grimaldo was shot and wounded by a suspect, William Belk, while working a part-time shift for the Sandersville Police Department. Deputy Grimaldo approached a stopped vehicle which had been reported stolen when the suspect opened fire on the deputy.

The suspect fled in his vehicle with Deputy Grimaldo in pursuit despite being shot and injured. The suspect was captured a short time later by the Laurel Police Department.

Deputy Derick Knight was the third officer awarded on the evening.

Deputy Knight was injured during a traffic stop by a suspect, Demetrius Omar Nabors, who slammed his vehicle into Deputy Knight. The suspect then fled the scene in his vehicle and later surrendered himself to authorities at the Jones County Adult Detention Facility.

Deputy Chase Smith was the fourth and final deputy honored with the Medal of Valor Saturday night.

Deputy Smith was involved in a violent assault with a suspect, Raleigh Maxey, during a traffic stop and stayed in the fight until assistance arrived from the Ellisville Police Department and multiple JCSD units.

Sheriff Berlin noted in presenting the Medal of Valor to each deputy, "Your actions and conduct in the face of extreme, life-threatening danger in the performance of your law enforcement duties qualifies you for the Medal of Valor. We are pleased to award you this honor and more importantly thankful that your training and preparation for such an incident meant that you survived the encounter."

The four deputies were each presented with a certificate and a Medal of Valor bar to be worn on their Class A uniforms.