7 Honored for Taking Risk to Stop Criminals

Seven area residents were honored as “courageous citizens” Wednesday for their efforts to stop criminals, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced.

The awards were presented by Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti and the Van Nuys Rotary Club during a luncheon at the Masonic Temple in Van Nuys.

“We should applaud the efforts of people who forget their own vulnerability and get involved in helping their communities,” said Garcetti, who nevertheless discouraged vigilantism.

The award was created and has been given since 1985 by the district attorney’s office to honor those who put themselves at risk to help stop suspected criminals.

Robert David Hunn, 28, and Kenny Van Ausdall, 25, both of Lancaster, were given awards for catching a drunk driver and preventing him from escaping after a traffic accident on New Year’s Eve.

Hunn said it was just a natural thing for him to do. “I didn’t think about whether or not I was going to get hurt,” he said. “I just wanted to help.”

Other honorees were George Rodarte of Sherman Oaks and Monte Fisher of Hidden Hills, who chased and captured a suspected mugger; Sam Jones of North Hollywood, who followed a vehicle carrying two suspected robbers onto the freeway and later reported the license plate number to police; Russell L. Greene of Studio City, who captured a man who allegedly assaulted three people at a concert, and Deputy Dist. Atty. John Allen Ramseyer of La Canada, who helped police catch a suspected purse snatcher.