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'It Happened So Fast': Deputy Stabbed 3 Times Awarded Purple Heart

A Randolph County was deputy stabbed three times after responding to a call last month. Thursday he was awarded the Law Enforcement Purple Heart.

RANDOLPH COUNTY, N.C. - A deputy stabbed three times while responding to a call last month was awarded the Law Enforcement Purple Heart on Thursday.

Lieutenant Kevin Walton has been a sworn officers for the last 22 years, and says, he's run into some scary and dangerous situations, but nothing as intense as a scene in Ramseur July 13th.

"Never anything this traumatic," he said, "I’ve obviously never been stabbed, or shot before. But I have been in some situations where things can get really bad, but by far this is probably the worst."

PREVIOUS: Two Randolph Co. Deputies Hurt in Assault with 'Edged Weapon'

Dispatch received a 911 call about an armed assault suspect on Highway 49. Two deputies responded to the call, but Lt. Walton was called in as backup - and told to come as quickly as he could.

Officers say the suspect, Clarence Harris, barricaded himself into his home after attacking the 911 caller. The deputies coerced him to come out of the house, and when he did, Walton tackled him to the ground so he would not run.

"While we were struggling, I heard somebody holler knife!," he said, "So I rolled off with him, just to get away from him, but by then I was already stabbed three times."

Walton had been stabbed once in the forearm, and twice in the leg. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital to treat his injuries, while others on scene arrested Harris.

"It happened so fast," Walton said.

He was discharged from the emergency room that evening, but over the past month - had to take medical leave from the Sheriff's Office. Recently, he's back helping around the office, however it will be another couple of months before he can go back out in the field.

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