Charles T. Carbonell, Sr.

Charles T. Carbonell, Sr., saved Steven D. Metzler from assault, Tampa, Florida, February 12, 2007. Metzler, 57, a police officer, was attempting to detain a man after stopping him in traffic. The man resisted, and, struggling against Metzler, seized his handgun. Carbonell, 50, furniture restorer, passed by in his vehicle and then witnessed the men fighting for control of the weapon. He returned to the scene, parked, and then ran to the assailant and peeled his fingers from the gun, enabling Metzler to reholster it. The assailant continued to struggle violently as Carbonell and Metzler attempted to subdue him. Taking him to the ground, they placed him in handcuffs, but with difficulty, before backup officers arrived. Metzler suffered minor cuts and Carbonell was struck repeatedly during the fracas, but neither man required medical treatment. They recovered.