Wildwood Detective Sergeant David Clarkson has been awarded the police department’s first ever Medal of Valor for his successful effort to arrest a sexual assault suspect.
Police Chief Randy Parmer said the suspect, Jon McDonough, was wanted for sex crimes involving a juvenile.
“This was a very heinous crime and outside the normal fabric of our society,” said Parmer, who presented the award at Monday’s Wildwood Commission meeting.
McDonough was spotted Sept. 25 traveling in a pickup truck with his brother.
Parmer said when Clarkson and other officers stopped the truck on Main Street, the McDonough jumped out and put a gun to his own head, threatening suicide.
After a few minutes of negotiation, Clarkson persuaded the McDonough to put down the gun and surrender.
Mayor Ed Wolf said he taught both McDonough and his brother when he was a teacher at the middle school. After his arrest, McDonough committed suicide.
Clarkson said the victim is doing fine and is “the happiest that she’s ever been.”
