Left to Right: Colonel Steve Adcock, Private Brian Tallent, Major Jason Young, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Carter. (Image courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks)

On Monday, Conservation Officer Brian Tallent was on routine patrol in Yalobusha County when he received a call about possible trespassing on or near the Holly Springs National Forest.

Officer Tallent reported to the area and made contact with a vehicle matching the description given, on a remote dirt road near Curry Lake.  Tallent acted quickly and performed life-saving measures on a female passenger found unconscious in the vehicle.  The victim was airlifted to a nearby hospital for her injuries.

The driver of the vehicle, 42-year-old Michael Paul Gray of Coffeeville, was arrested and charged with attempted murder and possession of a Schedule 1 drug.  Gray was booked into the Yalobusha County Jail.

Colonel Steve Adcock said, “We are extremely proud of the immediate, decisive actions taken by Officer Tallent. Our prayers are with the young lady, that she can fully recover from this heinous act of violence.”

This case is still under investigation.