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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Six El Paso residents, Ulises Prado, Mario |
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Banuelos-Valenzuela, Hector Rodriguez, Irving Martinez, Jose Luna, |
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and Hugo Uribe, earned the admiration and appreciation of their |
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community on August 16, 2012, when they rescued an 18-month-old |
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girl from an attempted kidnapping; and |
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WHEREAS, The men, all tree trimmers for Asplundh Tree Expert |
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Company, were driving back to their work site from lunch, when they |
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were approached by a man who was walking through a neighborhood |
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where children were playing; and |
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WHEREAS, The workers quickly sensed that something was wrong |
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with the man because of his confused manner, when suddenly, he |
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pulled out a knife, jumped onto their truck's sidestep, and began |
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slashing at them; the driver stepped on the gas, causing the |
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assailant to fall from the vehicle, but moments later, they saw him |
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grab a toddler from a nearby yard; and |
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WHEREAS, Immediately maneuvering the truck around, they |
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chased the man down the road and watched as he leapt into an |
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irrigation canal with the child in his arms; he then dropped her |
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into the water while attempting to cross to the other side; |
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Mr. Prado, a former lifeguard, immediately jumped into the canal to |
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retrieve the child, who was unharmed; meanwhile, the perpetrator |
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continued to threaten the men with his knife, but they were |
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eventually able to wrestle him to the ground and hold him there |
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until police arrived; the girl was subsequently returned to her |
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profoundly grateful parents; and |
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WHEREAS, For their courage and quick thinking, the men were |
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recognized with Honorary Deputy Sheriff Awards from the El Paso |
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County Sheriff's Office, as well as with the El Paso Electric |
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Humanitarian Award; and |
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WHEREAS, The decisive actions of these brave men prevented a |
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terrible tragedy, and their immediate response to help a child in |
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grave danger at their own peril has touched the hearts of many |
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people; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Ulises Prado, Mario |
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Banuelos-Valenzuela, Hector Rodriguez, Irving Martinez, Jose Luna, |
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and Hugo Uribe for their heroism in recovering an abducted child and |
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extend to them sincere appreciation for their extraordinary |
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accomplishment; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Prado, Mr. Banuelos-Valenzuela, Mr. Rodriguez, |
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Mr. Martinez, Mr. Luna, and Mr. Uribe as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |